Briefing: The Indian Ocean tsunami 20 years on – driving change and changing lives

More than 20 years have passed since the tragic 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, which killed over 227 000 people and devastated the coastlines of 14 countries surrounding the Indian Ocean. This tragic event kickstarted a worldwide effort in advancing knowledge towards mitigating the catastrophic effects of future tsunami. The ensuing research has greatly enhanced our understanding of tsunami, informing better infrastructure design and risk mitigation practices.