It was one of the worst natural disasters in the history of mankind.

The Red Cross estimates that there were almost 230,000 casualties (176,459 confirmed dead and 49,956 missing). 2.3 million people were in some way directly affected.

The tsunami began as a force 9 earthquake on the Ocean bed, off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, on Boxing day morning. It caused tidal waves of up to 30 feet, traveling at 500 miles an hour.

The countries affected were: Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Myanmar, the Maldives, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Somalia, Seychelles Kenya, Madagascar, Tanzania, La Reunion and Mauritius.