2004 Sri Lanka tsunami train wreck
| 2004 Sri Lanka tsunami train wreck | |
|---|---|
One of the cars following the wreck | |
| Details | |
| Date | December 26, 2004 |
| Location | Peraliya, Hikkaduwa |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Line | Coastal line |
| Operator | Sri Lanka Railways |
| Incident type | Flood |
| Cause | Tsunami caused by 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 1 Train (No. 50) |
| Deaths | Exact figures unknown, at least 900, most likely 1,700+ |
| Injured | 100+ |
The 2004 Sri Lanka tsunami train wreck is the largest single rail disaster in world history by death toll, with 1,000 fatalities or more. It occurred when a crowded passenger train (No 50, Matara Express) was destroyed on a coastal railway in Sri Lanka by a tsunami that followed the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. The tsunami subsequently caused over 30,000 reported deaths and billions of rupees in property damage in the coastal areas of Sri Lanka.