What is the significance of Asian Tsunami?

Question

At nearly 8000 local time on 26 December 2004,a titanic shift of tectonic plates triggered an immense magnitude 9.0 earthquake in the Indian Ocean, 20 kilometres from the west coast of Sumatra,Indonesia.The quake was much greater than any to rock the planet since 1964.The consequent tsunami devastated coastlines around the ocean and killed around 226,000 people,with millions left destitute.

Answer 1

What do you mean by the significance.  You described the cause and affect quite well.  It also was strong enough to cause the earth to wobble on it's axis for a moment.

It highlighted the need for a Tsunami Warning System in the South China Sea and Indian Ocean.  It showed the inadequate disaster response nn many of the affected countries.

It also was a wake up call that we should not take nature for granted.  There are still rumbling on that fault line and some scientists predict a larger one could be in the making.

It also had a stabilizing influence on the political situation in the worst struck regions of Sumatra.  (I think it was Acheh)  The anti-government forces ultimately laid down their arms to allow access to aid workers and supplies.