Some Facts and Figures about the Indian Ocean Tsunami

The tsunami that struck the on Dec. 26, 2004, was one of the world's worst natural disasters in modern times. Here are some facts and figures:

WHAT: A magnitude 9 earthquake - the most powerful in 40 years - ruptured the sea floor off Sumatra island, displacing billions on tons of water and sending waves 10 meters (33 feet) high radiating across the Indian Ocean at jetliner speeds.

THE SCOPE: One dozen countries on two continents were hit: Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, the Maldives, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Somalia, Tanzania, the Seychelles and Kenya.

THE DAMAGE: The Indonesian province of Aceh was closest to the quake's epicenter and suffered most - entire villages were swept away and much of the city of Banda Aceh destroyed.

In Thailand, tourist-filled beach resorts were trashed, and coastal villages from Sri Lanka to southern India and east Africa were leveled.

THE TOLL: At least 216,858 people were end or left missing, according to government and aid agency figures considered the most reliable in each country.

The U.N., however, puts the figure at 223,492. The true number will likely never be known because of record keeping irregularities and because so many bodies were washed out to sea.

REBUILDING: The U.N. says more than 75 percent of the US$13.6 billion (euro11.47 billion) in donor pledges has been received.

Rebuilding has begun, but aid agencies say 80 percent of refugees in some places are still living in tents or other temporary accommodation.

PREVENTION: Governments quickly promised to build a comprehensive early warning system of buoys, beach sirens and international communication lines to ensure the tragedy is never repeated.

But the system remains incomplete one year later, and some countries have gone ahead with their own national plans. - AP