Tectonics- Indian Ocean Tsunami

Tectonics- Indian Ocean Tsunami

1. Took place on 26th December 2004

   • Second biggest recorded earthquake took place measuring 9.3 on the Richter scale
     • There were at least 8 aftershocks
   • The Indian plate moved downwards by 15m

2. Impacts

   • Economic
     • 80000 houses were destroyed within 1m of Sumatra's coastline
       • Islands became cut off due to jetties being washed away
     • The cost to Thailand's fishing industry was £226 million
     • 44% of the population in Aceh Province Indonesia lost their livelihood
     • Tourism expenditure decreased by 70% in Thailand
   • Environmental
     • Vegetation and top soil was removed up to 800m inland
     • Water supplies and soils were contaminated with salt water
     • 20 of the Maldives islands were destroyed
   • Social
     • 290000 people died in 14 different countries and thousands of bodies are still missing
       • Three quarters of the victims died in Sumatra
     • 1.7 million people were displaced
     • 70% of Indonesia's coastal population were killed or missing

3. Response

   • A tsunami early warning system has been installed at the cost of $20 million
   • $7 billion in aid from governments and NGOs
     • 160 aid organisation and UN agencies were involved
   • 5 million people were relocated to temporary refugee camps
   • Foreign military troops provided assistance
   • Education on tsunami awareness in schools
   • Political barriers slowed aid
   • Tourist resorts were quickly rebuilt but other coastal communities were not
   • Practice drills and evacuation plans were established