What happened during the Indian Ocean earthquake?

The Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami of 26 December 2004 were caused by a magnitude 9.1–9.3 earthquake that occurred at 07:58:53 local time (UTC+7). The epicenter was off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia. The undersea megathrust earthquake was caused by the rupture of a 1,200 km (750 mi) segment of the fault between the Burma Plate and the Indian Plate. The rupture occurred along the entire Sunda Trench.

The earthquake triggered a series of devastating tsunamis along the coasts of most countries bordering the Indian Ocean, killing more than 230,000 people in fourteen countries, and inundating coastal communities with waves up to 30 meters (100 feet) high. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.

Timeline of events:

* December 26, 2004, 07:58:53 local time (UTC+7) - A magnitude 9.1–9.3 earthquake strikes off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia.

* December 26, 2004, 08:00-10:00 local time (UTC+7) - The earthquake triggers tsunamis that reach the coasts of Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and East Africa.

* December 26-27, 2004 - The tsunamis cause widespread devastation, killing more than 230,000 people and leaving millions homeless. The Aceh province of Indonesia is the hardest hit area, with more than 167,000 people killed.

* December 28, 2004 - International aid begins to arrive in the affected regions, and relief efforts are launched.

* January 2, 2005 - The United Nations launches a $977 million appeal for emergency aid to help the victims of the tsunami.

* January 11, 2005 - The Indonesian government announces that the number of dead in Aceh has reached more than 167,000, making it the deadliest tsunami in history.

* February 15, 2005 - The final death toll from the tsunami is estimated at 230,210 people, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.

* March 26, 2005 - The United Nations holds a conference in Jakarta, Indonesia, to discuss the reconstruction efforts in the tsunami-affected regions.

* May 26, 2005 - The World Bank pledges $1.3 billion in aid for the reconstruction of the tsunami-affected regions.