Earthquake reawakens Asia’s fear of tsunami

In nations around the Indian Ocean, thousands scrambled for higher ground after powerful quakes triggered fears of a disaster in a region all too familiar with the power of a tsunami.

Warnings that destructive waves could tear into coastal regions sparked mass evacuations, reawakening painful memories of the 2004 tsunami that claimed nearly a quarter of a million lives.

The quake was felt as far afield as Thailand, where skyscrapers in the capital Bangkok swayed. India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Reunion Island, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar all issued alerts or evacuation orders.