The tsunami

"One year ago Monday, a magnitude 9 earthquake -- the most powerful in 40 years -- ruptured the sea floor off Sumatra, sending waves [at least] 33 feet high across the Indian Ocean.

"They crashed ashore in a dozen countries, sweeping entire villages away in Sumatra and Sri Lanka, swamping resorts in Thailand, and surging into coastal communities from India to east Africa.

"At least 216,000 people were killed or disappeared, The Associated Press found in an assessment of government and credible relief agency figures in each country hit. The United Nations puts the number at 223,000, though it says some countries are still updating their figures.

"The true toll will probably never be known -- many bodies were lost at sea and in some cases the populations of places struck were not accurately recorded."


Thai Buddhist monks recite prayers during a multi-religious candlelight vigil for tsunami victims in the Thai town of Takua Pa in this January 19, 2005, file photo.