Final answer:
The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was caused by a magnitude 9.0 underwater earthquake near the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, resulting in one of the deadliest natural disasters, with around 283,000 fatalities.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 2004, the cause of the Indian Ocean tsunami was a massive underwater earthquake near the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. This earthquake registered a magnitude of 9.0 and is estimated to have had the energy equivalent of 23,000 atomic bombs. The seismic event caused the seafloor to uplift, displacing a huge volume of water and generating tsunami waves that affected 11 countries and led to the deaths of approximately 283,000 people.
The Indian Ocean tsunami is considered one of the deadliest natural disasters in recent history, highlighting the devastating impact of seismic activity in subduction zones around the world. Tsunamis are generated by geological disturbances such as underwater earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic eruptions. In the case of the 2004 tsunami, it was the sudden vertical displacement of the seabed owing to the earthquake that triggered the deadly waves.