On Sunday, December 26, the eastern and southern coastlines of India and many other parts of Asia were battered by tsunamis, which left a trail of destruction.
In India, over 5,000 people are reported dead, with most casualties being in the Andaman and Nicobar islands and Tamil Nadu. Deaths have also been reported from Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Pondicherry.
In other parts of Asia, the toll is over 10,000, with Sri Lanka accounting for almost half the figure. Millions in the island nation have been rendered homeless.
The tsunamis, triggered by an earthquake in the Indian Ocean off Sumatra in Indonesia, and travelling at a speed of over 700 kmph, struck without warning, giving people in the coastal regions no time to react or move to safety.
Within the blink of an eye, people's lives had changed forever.
If you escaped nature's fury or were witness to the catastrophe, please share your experience with us.
Where were you when the disaster struck? What saved you? Can you describe the scene around you? Please tell us