DisasterDMK-AIADMK alternation
2004 Indian Ocean tsunami strikes the Tamil Nadu coast
The tsunami after the Sumatra earthquake killed about 8,000 people in Tamil Nadu, with Nagapattinam the worst-hit district.
On 26 December 2004 a massive undersea earthquake off Sumatra sent tsunami waves across the Indian Ocean. Tamil Nadu suffered the heaviest losses in mainland India, with around 8,000 deaths. Nagapattinam district was worst affected, and Cuddalore, Kanyakumari and the Chennai coast, including Marina Beach, were also hit. Fishing communities lost homes, boats and livelihoods. The disaster led to large relief and rehousing programmes and to new coastal disaster management planning.
