Here's Five Most Deadly Tsunamis in History

Many tsunamis that have occurred throughout human history. Some of them are occurring in Indonesia, such as the tsunami that struck the Mentawai region on last Monday (10/25/2010) and tsunami in Aceh in 2004.

History records that the disaster occurred due to geological activity is almost always claimed many lives. Here is a historical record of the five most deadly tsunami:

No. 5: Krakatau Tsunami, Sunda Strait (1883)

Death toll: 36,000
Cause: Volcanic eruption
The tsunami occurred in 1883 and killed about 36,000 people. The tsunami waves caused by the eruption reached a height 40 meters and swept at least 165 villages in Java and Sumatra. The Krakatau eruption itself is the largest volcanic eruption in history, a sound so loud and volcanic ash which even spread to Australia.

No. 4: South China Sea Tsunami (1782)

Death toll: Over 40,000
Cause: Earthquake
The tsunami occurred in 1782 in the South China Sea region adjacent to Taiwan. Cause of the tsunami is a tectonic earthquake that occurred on the ocean floor. It is not clear epicenter and strength, but as many as 40,000 people die because of it. Based on the published catalog of Russia's tsunami, the tsunami waves hit the mainland as far as 120 kilometers.

No. 3: The Great Lisbon Earthquake and Tsunami

Death toll: 60,000
Cause: Undersea earthquake
The tsunami caused by an earthquake centered in the bottom waters of the Atlantic in 1755. The tsunami waves struck the cities in Portugal, Spain, and Morocco with the worst damage occurred in the city of Lisbon. Tsunami wave height does not exceed Krakatau tsunami, but the number of people killed far more, as many as 60,000 people.

No. 2: The Minoan eruption, Ancient Greece Tsunami

Death toll: 100,000 or more
Cause: Volcanic eruption
Tsunami in the Ancient Greek period is known to be the first tsunami recorded in history. Cause of the tsunami is eruption of a volcano near the island of Thera or Santorini. The number of people killed in the tsunami is not known with certainty, but estimated to reach more than 100,000 people.

The tsunami waves estimated at 15 meters. Meanwhile, the tsunami that occurred in 1500 BC is expected to cause the collapse of the civilization of Minoa, one of the civilizations that developed at that time.

No. 1: The Indian Ocean Tsunami

Death toll: Approximately 226,000
Cause: Undersea earthquake
The tsunami occurred on December 26, 2004 due to an earthquake measuring 9.1 to 9.3 on the Richter scale. The tsunami waves swept several areas in Aceh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Maldives and East Africa region.

Some 226,000 people died in the tsunami with 166,000 souls is a citizen of Indonesia. The earthquake causes a tsunami is the fourth largest earthquake that occurred in history, while the tsunami is the largest tsunami. The number of people who died reached 226,000 with 166,000 is an Indonesian.