Indian Ocean

• The tsunamis spread across the Indian Ocean and killed an estimated 275,000 people in bordering countries
• Damage to local communities left people unable to feed themselves and vulnerable to diseases such as cholera, which spread fast due to the hot, tropical climate
• A tsunami warning system costing $20 million was set up among the countries that border the Indian Ocean as a positive result of the tsunami
• $14 billion in aid was donated to the devastated countries after the tsunami
• Due to the hot climate, bodies decomposed quickly and so dry ice was used to preserve bodies during the identification processes
• The community response was so overwhelming after the disaster due to the emotions evoked at Christmas time - families donated more money to help victims who were left with nothing
• Primary effects:

  • 275,000 approximate deaths
  • Earth's orbit altered (days were 2.68 microseconds shorter)
  • 80,000 houses destroyed
• Secondary effects:

  • Diseases spread fast
  • Fishing equipment destroyed - damaged local economy
  • Infrastructure damaged
  • Coastal ecosystems destroyed by storm surge
  • Human and chemical waste polluted floodwater
  • 500,000 made homeless
• Date and location:

  • Boxing day - 26th December 2004
  • 9.0 Richter Scale - produced tsunami
  • Indian Ocean
  • Focus 25km below Indian Ocean floor, northwest Sumatra