Chilling footage shows tsunami that took the lives of thousands of people across 14 countries

Chilling footage shows the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami heading towards the shoreline.

The tsunami was caused by an earthquake near to the island of Sumatra which sent a series of enormous tsunamis towards the surrounding landmasses.

Measuring at a magnitude of 9.1, the earthquake produced waves of terrifying force.

This saw the deaths of 227,898 people across 14 countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Thailand, and Indonesia all sustaining enormous damage.

The footage posted to social media was shot by a German tourist who had been on the beach as the tsunami approached land in Thailand.

People in the tsunami's path were taken by surprise and no evacuations were carried out prior to its impact.

Aerial video shot after the disaster showed the sheer scale of the devastation, with entire communities wiped out by the force the wave.

The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami was one of the largest recorded natural disasters in human history.

The footage captured the terrifying wave. (X/@Morbidful)

Many of the areas hit were popular tourist destinations, and a number of tourist videos have since emerged, which show the wave as it approaches land.

In this video, the terrifying wave can be seen roaring towards the land while the cameraman films it.

People can be heard in the background shouting, though it's not clear if they're shouting out of alarm at this point.

Some estimates have put the speed of the Tsunami as travelling at 500mph across the ocean.

The wave was powerful enough that it travelled some 3,000 miles across the ocean to East Africa and still had enough power to cause deaths and destruction of property.

Some 1.7 million people were also made homeless by the Indian Ocean Tsunami, with the cost of the damage being estimated at some $13 billion.

The tsunami killed more than 220,000 people. (X/@Morbidful)

Another piece of footage from that day was shot by tourists who were lucky enough to make it out.

This shows waves from the tsunami moving around an island that they had been on.

They were able to survive as they were on the side of the island facing land, so didn't get the full force of the wave, instead getting the force of it as it washed around the island.

Tsunamis can give some signs before they make landfall.

One potential sign is a body of water very quickly being drawn back as though the tide is falling very rapidly.

This happening can be a sign that a tsunami is imminent, and you should get to high ground as quickly as possible.

• Scientists discover impact of data centers creating 'heat islands' warming the Earth by 16 degrees
• 3 cities at risk of being swallowed if ‘Doomsday Glacier’ melts after experts issued terrifying warning
• 'Perfectly preserved' remains of hiker who vanished 28 years ago found in glacier crack
• Stephen Hawking made a chilling prediction for the end of the world and we're not far off