It was early on a Sunday morning, but tourists and locals were already out in their thousands in Indonesia.

Moments later, the white sand disappeared, busy streets were engulfed and strong torrents began to toss boats and vehicles.

Watch the video above

At 7.58am local time on December 26, 2004 - 15 years ago - a 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the Indonesian coast, at the northern tip of Sumatra.

The huge quake triggered a massive tsunami across the Indian Ocean which would kill more than 230,000 people across 14 countries and become one of the world's deadliest and most destructive natural disasters.

Natural color satellite image showing the coastline on the southwestern city of Kalutara, Sri Lanka less than four hours after the earthquake and shortly after the moment of tsunami impact. Credit: AP

Waves of up to 30 metres struck the coasts of Sumatra, and the Nicobar Islands, 30 minutes after the tremor, before reaching Sri Lanka, India and Thailand.

Hours later, it would also reach the Maldives, Mauritius and as far as the east coast of Africa.

An Acehnese man, assisted by his friend, carries his injured daughter to higher ground through a flooded street a moment after the tsunami struck. Credit: BEDU SAINI, SERAMBI INDONESIA / AP

Indonesia was the worst hit due to its proximity to the earthquake epicentre, with water reaching kilometres inland.

An estimated 167,000 people died in the surging waters, more than 500,000 were left homeless and 800km of coastline was destroyed across the island country.

In the video below: 7NEWS speaks to Australian survivors following the Boxing Day Tsunami in Patong, Thailand

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Thousands of foreigners were also caught up in the disaster, many of whom had been out snorkelling, diving or on the beach when the wave hit.

Twenty three Australians died while holidaying in Thailand, and a further three in Sri Lanka.

Banda Aceh, West Sumartra, Indonesia, 1km from where the tsunami came ashore. Credit: DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE / Supplied

Scores of Australian tourists returned home in the days following the disaster, relieved to be touching down in Sydney.

A man walks across destroyed buildings January 10, 2005 in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Credit: Spencer Platt / Getty Images

"It was terrifying, absolutely terrifying, because we were running through broken glass, and mud, and blood, and bits of cars," one of the survivors told 7NEWS at the time.

"It was just frightening."

A Landing Craft Air Cushion vehicle delivers much needed materials and supplies to the citizens in the city of Meulaboh on January 10, 2005, on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. Credit: US Navy / Getty Images

Melbourne man Mick Smith said he "ran for his life" while his wife was "bowled over by some English bloke" because "people just didn't care".

A man looks over hundreds of missing notices that have been put up at the Tsunami Co-Ordination and Relief centre at Phuket Town Hall. Credit: Chris McGrath / Getty Images

Popular tourist beaches once lined with huts soon became makeshift hospitals.

Tourists recalled carrying bodies from the shore because they didn’t know “what else to do”.

British tourists console each other at the Phuket City Hall where hundreds of tourists who are missing friends and family member wait for help at the makeshift crisis center. Credit: Paula Bronstein / Getty Images

Another woman said when the tsunami hit Patong beach it “sounded as if bombs were going off, and people were going everywhere so we just ran”.

Two injured tsunami-survivors from West of Aceh on board of helicopter US Navy Seahawk helicopter to be flown to Banda Aceh, January 8, 2005. Credit: Dimas Ardian / Getty Images

The tsunami caused an estimated $10 billion damage in countries including Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Somalia, Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, Tanzania, Bangladesh and Kenya.

A boy scavenges in the remains of tsunami damaged homes January 18, 2005 in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Credit: Spencer Platt / Getty Images

The Australian government committed an initial $60 million in the first week for humanitarian assistance, later reaching $69.9 million.

Family and friends check missing notices in Phuket, Thailand following tsunami disaster. Credit: Patrick AVENTURIER / Getty Images

A child victim of the tsunami looks on at refugee camp, January 2005 in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Credit: Dimas Ardian / Getty Images

Legacy

One of the 26 Australians who died in the wave was Melbourne Demons footballer Troy Broadbridge.

Broadbridge was celebrating his honeymoon on Thailand's Phi Phi Islands with his wife of just eight days, Trisha, when the tsunami hit.

The wedding photo of tsunami victim and AFL footballer Troy Broadbridge and his wife Trisha. Credit: BRENT BIGNELL / AAP

His widow went on to create the Reach Broadbridge Fund with the Reach Foundation to honour her late husband.

She also established the Broadbridge Education centre on Thailand's Phi Phi Island with the Melbourne Football Club, to assist young people affected by the disaster.

In 2006, Trisha was awarded Young Australian of the Year for her charity work.

READ: 'I had to choose which son to save': Aussie mum reveals agonising tsunami decision