Indian Ocean Tsunami - 2004 Boxing day

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Indian ocean Tsunami December 2004

On boxing day 2004, 25km beneath the Indian ocean a section of sea bed on the Eurasian side of the fault rose several metres.

Magnitude 9.0 on Richter scale

Epicentre was just off north western tip of the island of Sumatra.

Some places the wall of water that came ashore was more than 25m high.

The December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was caused by an earthquake that is thought to have had the energy of 23,000 Hiroshima-type atomic bombs.

The rupture was more than 600 miles long, displacing the seafloor by 10 yards horizontally and several yards vertically. As a result, trillions of tons of rock moved, causing the largest magnitude earthquake in 40 years.

Despite a lag of up to several hours between the earthquake and the impact of the tsunami, nearly all of the victims were taken completely by surprise because there were no tsunami warning systems in place.

Effects

Estimated 300,000 people were killed by the waves

Tens of thousands of people were injured by the force of the waves and the debris it carried.

Places hit by tsunami were popular Christmas destinations - Many dead were from Europe.

Whole towns and villages were swept away - The island of Sumatra = 1500 villages destroyed.

Millions were made homeless

Massive damage to tourist infrastructure e.g. Hotels + Bars.

Widespread damage to coastal communications e.g. Railways - Pakistan = Train derailed = 1000 dead.

Agricultural jobs e.g. Fishing left 1000's unable to feed themselves.

Many hospitals and clinic's were washed away - large amounts of medical aid had to be brought in from outside the affected area.

Immediate responses

Search and rescue.

Emergency food and water.

Medical care.

Temporary shelter.

Re-establishing infrastructure and communications.

Secondary responses

Re-building and improving infrastructure and housing.

Providing jobs and supporting small businesses.

Giving advice and technical assistance.

Responses to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami can also be divided into short and long term:

Short-term responses

In many areas local communities were cut off and had to help themselves.

The authorities ordered quick burial or burning of the dead to avoid the spread of disease.

Food aid was provided to millions of people, eg from the World Food Programme.

$7 billion (just under £4.5billion) of aid was promised by foreign governments – but there were complaints that not all money pledged was given.

The British public gave £330 million through charities, e.g. the average Action aid donation was £84 – their best ever response.

Long-term responses

Reconstruction is still taking place.

International scale: an Indian Ocean tsunami warning system has now been set up.

Local scale: some small-scale sustainable development projects have been set up by charities to aid recovery and help local people help themselves to rebuild and set up small businesses.