Indonesia

• What event occurred on December 26, 2004?

  Earthquake leading to a tsunami
• What direction did the tsunami primarily spread after the earthquake?

  West and east directions
• Which country was closest to the earthquake's epicenter?

  Indonesia
• How far was the province of Aceh from the tremor's side?

  160 kilometers
• How quickly did the tsunami travel the first 120 kilometers towards Indonesia?

  In just 10 minutes
• What was the initial appearance of the tsunami in the deep ocean?

  Inconspicuous wave crest
• What was the speed of the tsunami in the deep ocean?

  Around 800 kilometers per hour
• What happened to the wave as it approached the coastal shelf?

  It slowed down and gained height which means that the energy was more concentrated rather than actually lost
• How high was the wall of water formed as the tsunami approached the shore?

  Approximately 30 meters high
• How long after the tremor did the wave reach the shores of Aceh?

  Approximately 20 minutes
• What was the impact of the tsunami on the town of Mulabaugh?

  Destroyed 80% of buildings and killed 10,000
• What warning sign did people ignore before the tsunami hit?

  The sea receded by 500 meters
• How did witnesses describe the sound of the tsunami?

  Like an approaching heavy storm
• What was the extent of the tsunami's reach inland from the coast?

  Reached 5 kilometers inland
• How many people lived in the town of Mulabaugh?

  50,000
• What was the height of the waves described by witnesses in Longa?

  Between 20 and 35 meters high
• What did the tsunami wash ashore in Longa?


  Large ships and destroyed facilities which therefore caused the local economy to suffer further as there was no ability to export their products

  Also as facilities were destroyed, there was not many places where international aid could be recieved
• How many people died due to the tsunami in Longa?

  Approximately 6,000
• What phenomenon occurred at Banda Aceh due to diffraction?

  The wave encircled islands and intensified
• What was the population of Banda Aceh?

  250,000
• What was the estimated height of the waves when they reached the shore at Banda Aceh?

  Estimated at 20 meters
• How far inland did the water reach in Banda Aceh?

  3.2 kilometers
• What was the total death toll in Indonesia due to the tsunami?

  Approximately 168,000 lives
• What has been done to Banda Aceh since the tsunami?

  Significant modernization and repair of damage
• What type of tsunami protection is still lacking in Banda Aceh?

  Massive breakwaters which limits the level of protection they have against future tsunamis as there is no physical block against the tsunami waves
• What geographical feature did the tsunami continue eastwards into?

  The shallow Andaman Sea

  Low bathymetry which means less friction

  This means that there is less energy lost meaning the tsunami is even more destructive
• Indonesia physical context

  Located at a destructive plate margin where the Indian plate subducted under the Burma plate
• Indonesia social context

  present day is an NEE

  7th largest economy in the world today

  Twenty percent of people live under the poverty line

  No effective tsunami warming system