A group of fishermen at a beach of the Indian Ocean in Aceh

A group of fishermen empty their nets at a beach of the Indian Ocean in Aceh, Indonesia. This December 2015 marks the eleventh anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, or Boxing Day tsunami, on Dec. 26, 2004, which was triggered by a 9.2 earthquake in the Indian Ocean off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia, and killing an estimated 230,000 people in 13 countries along the Indian Ocean. 

Molten lava erupts from the Piton de la Fournaise

Molten lava erupts from the Piton de la Fournaise, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, at dawn on the French Indian Ocean Reunion Island. The eruption that started on Monday, is the fourth one this year for the Piton de la Fournaise, sending hot jets of molten lava spewing up from the peak.

Anti-immigrant violence in South Africa

A group of foreign nationals threaten to defend themselves as police get between them and South Africans after a peace march in Durban, South Africa. At least four people have been killed in a wave of anti-immigrant violence that started two weeks ago in Durban, a key port on South Africa’s Indian Ocean coast.

Supporters of Mithripala Sirisena celebrate in Colombo

Supporters of Sri Lankan presidential candidate Mithripala Sirisena celebrate in Colombo. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa conceded defeat to Sirisena, ending a decade of rule that critics say had become increasingly authoritarian and marred by nepotism and corruption.

Tsunami anniversary in Indonesia

Acehnese women attend a mass prayer for the 2004 tsunami victims at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh.

Asia remembers devastating 2004 tsunami with tears

Sri Lankan tsunami survivor fishermen pull a fishing net on the beach in Peraliya, Sri Lanka. The 2004 Boxing Day tsunami following the Indian Ocean Earthquake killed approximately 230,000 people across fourteen countries. Sri Lankan authorities reported approximately 35,000 confirmed deaths by tsunami. The village of Peraliya was the worst single site of casualties where a train was swept away killing over a thousand people.

Distraught MH370 Families Mark Six Months Since Jet Vanished

Family members of passengers on Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 gathered for prayers at a temple in Beijing on Monday, the six-month anniversary of the disappearance of the plane. The Boeing 777 aircraft disappeared March 8 after taking off from Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, bound for Beijing. About two thirds of the 239 people on board were from China.

Amazing Beauty of Christmas Island

The Territory of Christmas Island is a territory of Australia in the Indian Ocean. It has a population of 2,072 residents who live in a number of “Settlement areas” on the northern tip of the island: Flying Fish Cove (also known as Kampong), Silver City, Poon Saan, and Drumsite. The majority of the population is Chinese Australian. It is called Christmas Island because it was discovered on Christmas Day. The island’s geographic isolation and history of minimal human disturbance has led to a high level of endemism among its flora and fauna, which is of significant interest to scientists and naturalists.^[2] 63% of its 135 square kilometres (52 sq mi) is an Australian national park. There exist large areas of primary monsoonal forest. Phosphate, deposited originally as guano, has been mined on the island for many years.

Amazing Beauty of Chrismis Island

40 million red crabs make the arduous journey

Every year in late spring, Australia’s Christmas Island sees more than 40 million red crabs make the arduous journey from the wet inland forests to the Indian Ocean to spawn.