December 26 Birthday
On December 26, 2004, a 9.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra. It generated a tsunami that traveled at 500 mph across the Indian Ocean. Waves reached 100 feet in some areas. 230,000 people died in fourteen countries — 170,000 in Indonesia alone. The tsunami was detected by seismographs within minutes, but there was no warning system for the Indian Ocean. If one had existed, tens of thousands of lives could have been saved. The disaster prompted the creation of a tsunami warning system for the Indian Ocean, operational by 2006. Mao Zedong, born this day in 1893, led the Communist Party of China to victory in 1949. His Great Leap Forward (1958-62) caused the deadliest famine in history — an estimated 30 to 45 million people starved. His Cultural Revolution (1966-76) destroyed centuries of cultural heritage and killed or imprisoned millions. He is responsible for more deaths than any single person in history. He died in 1976. People born on December 26 fall under the zodiac sign of Capricorn. The birthstone is Tanzanite and the birth flower is Holly. Historical events on December 26 include 2004: Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami kill 230,000 across 14 countries, 1941: Winston Churchill addresses US Congress days after Pearl Harbor, 1966: First Kwanzaa celebration held in Los Angeles. Famous people born on December 26 include Henry Miller (1891), Mao Zedong (1893), Jared Leto (1971).