Two new geological studies have suggested that the devastating ‘Tsunami’, which killed 230,000 people in 2004, was the largest in the Indian Ocean in some 600 years.

Researchers said that long gap might clarify how enough geological pressure built up to power the massive undersea earthquake, which launched the killer waves over 100 feet high four years ago
 
The research groups reported that by digging pits and taking core samples in Thailand and northern Sumatra, they found proof that the past tsunami of that size and power struck between the years 1300 and 1400.

The researchers found sheets of sand that had been apparently left undisturbed by wind, rivers, storms, animals or humans.

The study researchers also estimated the age of sand sheets with carbon dating of associated plant debris.

The December 2004 disaster killed people in 14 countries.

The findings, reported in Thursday’s issue of the journal ‘Nature,’ could be used to put statistical weight behind estimates of future tsunami.