A strong earthquake measuring 9 on the Richter scale hit Southeast Asia on December 26, 2004. The earthquake triggered massive tsunamis (tidal waves) in Sri Lanka, southern India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Maldives. Tsunami waves have also hit the coastal areas of Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar), Mauritius and Somalia.
Canada is committed to a coordinated response to the crisis in South and South East Asia and is working closely with the affected countries, other donor countries and non-governmental partners already on the ground in the affected areas.