The Indian Ocean

Cards (22)

  • When did it happen?
    26th December 2004
  • What was the magnitude?
    Between 9.0 and 9.3, the second biggest in history
  • Were there any warning systems in place?
    Radio and Television alerts were not broadcast in Thailand and other countries until nearly after the waves had hit
  • How many countries did the tsunami directly affect?
    11
  • What was the range between how long it took from the initial displacement of the sea bed to the wave hitting land masses?
    15 minutes - 90 minutes
  • What was the cause of the Tsunami?
    15m vertical displacement of 1600km of sea bed, 240 km North West of the Indonesian coastline. At a Destructive plate boundary.
  • How many people died?
    Up to 300,000 - thousand of bodies never been recovered
  • Vegetation and soil were removed up to how many metres inwards?
    800m
  • What happened to coastal settlements?
    They were obliterated for example the City of Banda Aech in Sumatra was devastated
  • What happened initially to the infrastructure ?
    Infrastructure was destroyed, the islands of Andaman and Nicobar were all but cut off as jetties were washed away
  • How many people were forced to seek refuge?
    500,000
  • What economies lost their income and give a more specific example?
    Fishing, agriculture and tourism. For example 44% of the population living in the Aceh Province lost their livelihoods and in Thailand the cost to the fishing industry was £226m.
  • What was contaminated by salt water?

    Water supplies and soils
  • How many Aid and UN organisations and agencies were implemented?
    160
  • Give an example of a foreign military troop providing assistance
    The Australian air force improved air traffic control at Banda Aceh airport, Indonesia.
  • What slowed aid distribution?
    Political barriers, for example In Sri Lanka aid was delayed to areas held by rebel Tamil Tigers
  • what type of large scale programmes were implemented?
    Programmes of reconstruction, but there were still many thousands left in tents a year on
  • Education on what began in schools?
    Tsunamis and drills and evacuations
  • What happened to coastal zones?
    They were Hazard mapped to identify areas most at risk
  • What system did the UN put into place?
    Tsunami warning system for the Indian ocean
  • What resorts were quickly rebuilt ?
    Tourist resorts such as those in Phuket and Thailand
  • What was prejudice highlighted?
    Existing government prejudices for example in India the Dalits, an underclass, were ignored by the government