The Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 was so disastrous in terms of loss of life and property because . . .
-- It was caused by an Earthquake of a type and at a depth that cause exceptionally large tsunamis.
-- It hit parts of Indonesia, India, and Africa where low-lying terrain extends far inland. That made it possible for the sudden increase in sea-level to push the wall of water far inland.
-- It hit parts of Indonesia, India, and Africa where the coastal areas are densely populated.
-- It hit parts of Indonesia, India, and Africa where there is little or no communication among densely populated coastal areas. There were hundreds of thousands of people who took no action to protect themselves or their homes, because even several days after the Earthquake, nobody in their villages knew what was coming.
