Why were the Nicobar Islands especially vulnerable to the 2004 tsunami?

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Cinque Islands, Andaman and Nicobar Islands — Andaman and Nicobar Islands Andaman redwood trees in the Cinque Islands, south of Rutland Island, in the southern Andamans, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.

The Nicobar Islands were particularly vulnerable to the 2004 tsunami primarily due to their low-lying topography. Because significant portions of these islands are low in elevation, they were unable to withstand the force of the tidal waves, leading to extensive inundation and the submersion of large areas of land.12

The tsunami was generated by a massive 9.1 magnitude earthquake that occurred in the Indian Ocean near Sumatra, Indonesia. While the entire Andaman and Nicobar Islands territory suffered significant damage and loss of life, the lower-lying nature of the Nicobar group made them especially susceptible to the devastating impact of the waves.12