<p><br>
Churning waters retreat from the battered coast of Kalutara, Sri Lanka, after a tsunami hit coastal areas throughout the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004. The tsunami was triggered by an underwater 9.0-magnitude <a href="http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/photos/earthquake-general">earthquake</a> between the Indonesian island of Sumatra and the Indian Andaman Islands.</p>
Flooded Area
Churning waters retreat from the battered coast of Kalutara, Sri Lanka, after a tsunami hit coastal areas throughout the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004. The tsunami was triggered by an underwater 9.0-magnitude earthquake between the Indonesian island of Sumatra and the Indian Andaman Islands.
Tsunamis
See photos of the destructive power of a tsunami—a giant wave caused by undersea earthquakes that can wipe out anything that didn't make it to higher ground.
