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 - 90minutes
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