Tsunami (Indonesia) #2

Case Study: Boxing Day Tsunami (26th December 2004)



The earthquake that generated the great Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 is estimated to have released the energy of 23,000 Hiroshima-type atomic bombs, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The epicenter of the 9.0 magnitude quake was under the Indian Ocean near the west coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, according to the USGS, which monitors earthquakes worldwide. The violent movement of sections of the Earth's crust, known as tectonic plates, displaced an enormous amount of water, sending powerful shock waves in every direction.

The earthquake was the result of the sliding of the portion of the Earth's crust known as the India plate under the section called the Burma plate. The process has been going on for millennia, one plate pushing against the other until something has to give.

The result on December 26 was a rupture the USGS estimates was more than 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) long, displacing the seafloor above the rupture by perhaps 10 yards (about 10 meters) horizontally and several yards vertically. That doesn't sound like much, but the trillions of tons of rock that were moved along hundreds of miles caused the planet to shudder with the largest magnitude earthquake in 40 years.

Above the disturbed seafloor the great volume of the ocean was displaced along the line of the rupture, creating one of nature's most deadly phenomena: a tsunami.
Within hours killer waves radiating from the earthquake zone slammed into the coastline of 11 Indian Ocean countries, snatching people out to sea, drowning others in their homes or on beaches, and demolishing property from Africa to Thailand.



Many coastal areas in the Indian Ocean had almost no warning of the approaching tsunami. The only sign of the tsunami announcing its arrival in several places was in the form of a rapidly receding ocean. Many reports quoted survivors saying how they had never seen the sea withdraw such a distance, exposing seafloor never seen before, stranding fish and boats on the sand. Tragically the novelty of the sight apparently stoked the curiosity of the people who ran out onto the exposed seafloor. Tourists in Thailand were seen wandering around photographing the scene.

Some people did not know that the tsunami is a series of waves. Once the first wave had gone, they thought it was safe to go down to the beach.

Survivors of the Indian Ocean tsunami reported that the sea surged out as fast and as powerfully as it came ashore. Many people who had survived the wall of water rushing inland were seen being swept out to sea when the ocean retreated.

Serious damages were done to infrastructures. The tourist flow of the affected countries took a dip and recovery was expected only in two to three years’ time. This resulted in a significant drop in tourist revenue for these countries.



Fishing and shipping industries in the Tsunami-hit countries were greatly affected. Many of the fishing boats and equipments were destroyed resulting in loss of jobs.

Salt water infiltration and eutrophication resulted in ecosystems being damaged. Non-biodegradable waste and poisonous substances such as lithium and arsenic were released into the sea and led to marine life being disrupted.



The people’s psychological states were affected drastically due to the grief of losing loved ones. Many of them were traumatized and could not get back on their feet after this disaster.