Boxing Day Tsunami

The harrowing story of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami that killed more than 250,000 people. Xand van Tulleken and Raksha Dave reveal how the catastrophe unfolded in this dramatic documentary on BBC Select. 12 hours before the first quake, vacationers enjoyed a blissful break unaware a combination of weather events was gathering force. What factors led to a tidal wave of unimaginable destruction?

90 minutes after the initial quake that triggered the devastating 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, the first wave had already struck Indonesia and Thailand. But as this harrowing BBC Select documentary reveals, just as survivors attempted to come to terms with the horror around them, a second wave was bearing down on them. Was there anything they could have done to mitigate the destruction?

8 hours after the quake which caused the first destructive wave, shockwaves were still being felt 5,000 miles away in South Africa. But it was the tragic human stories that were far more powerful. BBC Select presents the final part of this harrowing documentary that looks at the immediate aftermath of the 2004 tsunami. Survivors describe desperate attempts to save friends and strangers in peril.