Never-before-seen footage of tragic 2004 tsunami to air in devastating documentary

A new documentary focusing on the events of the tragic 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami is coming to National Geographic. The heartbreaking disaster claimed over 225,000 lives when it took place over 20 years ago.

Tsunami: Race Against Time will feature never-before-seen footage of the tsunami, as well as personal accounts from survivors and experts. The four-part documentary will premiere across two nights on National Geographic, kicking off on 25 November. The series will also be available to stream on Disney+ on 25 October.

The documentary is the creation of award-winning producers Tanya Winston and Danny Horan. It was directed by Daniel Bogado, known for working on National Geographic's 9/11: One Day In America.

Survivors, scientists, journalists and rescuers will tell their accounts of what happened during the 2004 tsunami. Around 300 hours of archival footage, including clips that have never been seen, will feature, as well as interviews with over 100 people, some of whom have never spoken about their experience.

The series offers an insight into the tsunami's impact and the deadly trail it left throughout 14 countries. It also focuses on the acts of bravery and sacrifice throughout the disaster and tells stories of those who survived and helped, including scientists who raced against the clock to warn the of the disaster unfolding.

Tsunami: Race Against Time used raw data points produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to create 'a high-resolution, moving simulation'. Working in collaboration with scientists, experts and survivors, they a lso managed to establish timings for the arrival and spread of the tsunami across affected areas.

The official synopsis reads: “Tsunami: Race Against Time is a visceral, sensitive and gripping retelling of the terrible events of the Day tsunami. I’m immensely proud of the lengths the production team went to find never-before-seen archives, interview people who have never spoken before, and the great care with which they tell their stories,” said Tom McDonald, EVP of Global Factual and Unscripted, National Geographic. “National Geographic is the storyteller of record for historic events of global significance, and following our award-winning series on 9/11 and the assassination of JFK, this series cements our commitment to telling these stories in new and surprising ways.”

ALL EPISODES OF TSUNAMI: RACE AGAINST TIME WILL BE AVAILABLE TO STREAM ON DISNEY+ FROM 25 OCTOBER.