However, when the seawalls were made of loose stones, the stones were displaced and carried a few metres inland.[75][77][79]. [68] In Sri Lanka, the civilian casualties were second only to those in Indonesia, with approximately 35,000 killed by the tsunami. Several thousand non-Asian tourists vacationing in the region also were reported dead or missing. Although the extreme western edge of the Ring of Fire extends into the Indian Ocean (the point where the earthquake struck), no warning system exists in that ocean. 1,500-metre-high (5,000 ft) thrust ridges created by previous geologic activity along the fault had collapsed, generating landslides several kilometres wide. [32], The earthquake generated a seismic oscillation of the Earth's surface of up to 200–300 mm (8–12 in), equivalent to the effect of the tidal forces caused by the Sun and Moon. [95] However, the estimated number of dead and missing in Indonesia were later reduced by over 50,000. Thousands of rice, mango, and banana plantations in Sri Lanka were destroyed almost entirely and will take years to recover. Besides that, a 10 m (33 ft) black muddy tsunami ravaged the city of Karaikal, where 492 lives were lost. Similarly, the natural Chandler wobble of the Earth, which in some cases can be up to 15 m (50 ft), will eventually offset the minor wobble produced by the earthquake. The province of Phang Nga was the most affected area in Thailand. [72] Amateur camcorder footage taken by Israeli tourists showed the tsunami advancing inland suddenly as a small flood, gradually becoming more powerful and engulfed the whole beach and resort, with a yacht boat can be seen carried by the tsunami out to sea. [34] It also caused the Earth to minutely "wobble" on its axis by up to 25 mm (1 in) in the direction of 145° east longitude,[35] or perhaps by up to 50 or 60 mm (2.0 or 2.4 in). [123], Countries in the region appealed to tourists to return, pointing out that most tourist infrastructure is undamaged. At least 160,000 people were killed on Sumatra island as a result of a 9.1 magnitude earthquake and tsunami on Boxing Day in 2004. Seismographic and acoustic data indicate that the first phase involved a rupture about 400 km (250 mi) long and 100 km (60 mi) wide, 30 km (19 mi) beneath the sea bed—the largest rupture ever known to have been caused by an earthquake. [citation needed]. [citation needed], The hardest-hit area, Aceh, is a religiously conservative Islamic society and has had no tourism nor any Western presence in recent years due to the insurgency between the Indonesian military and Free Aceh Movement (GAM). The only recorded earthquakes with a larger MW were the 1960 Chilean and 1964 Alaskan quakes, with 2.5×1023 joules (250 ZJ) and 7.5×1022 joules (75 ZJ), respectively. ". The second and third waves were 15–30 m (49–98 ft) high at the coast and appeared like gigantic surfing waves but "taller than the coconut trees and was like a mountain". [70] In Hambantota, tsunami run-ups measured 11 m (36 ft) with the greatest inundation distance of 2 km (1.2 mi). There was 10 m (33 ft) movement laterally and 4–5 m (13–16 ft) vertically along the fault line. Inundation was observed, along the east coast of South Andaman Island, restricted to Chidiyatapu, Burmanallah, Kodiaghat, Beadnabad, Corbyn's cove and Marina Park/Aberdeen Jetty areas. Also, the spread of solid and liquid waste and industrial chemicals, water pollution and the destruction of sewage collectors and treatment plants threaten the environment even further, in untold ways. [120], Some economists believe that damage to the affected national economies will be minor because losses in the tourism and fishing industries are a relatively small percentage of the GDP. The earliest, lower amplitude signal is that of the compressional (P) wave, which takes about 22 minutes to reach the other side of the planet (the antipode; in this case near Ecuador). Geological Survey of India Special Publication no. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. [152], Nations all over the world provided over US$14 billion in aid for damaged regions,[153] with the governments of Australia pledging US$819.9 million (including a US$760.6 million aid package for Indonesia), Germany offering US$660 million, Japan offering US$500 million, Canada offering US$343 million, Norway and the Netherlands offering both US$183 million, the United States offering US$35 million initially (increased to US$350 million), and the World Bank offering US$250 million. Indonesia was the worst affected area, with most death toll estimates at around 170,000. [52] However, not all tsunamis cause this "disappearing sea" effect. This was the highest number of casualties in a single African town and the largest tsunami death toll in a single town to the west of the Indian subcontinent. It confirms 126,473 dead … Updates? The sudden vertical rise of the seabed by several metres during the earthquake displaced massive volumes of water, resulting in a tsunami that struck the coasts of the Indian Ocean. [29], The energy released on the Earth's surface (ME, which is the seismic potential for damage) by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was estimated at 1.1×1017 joules (110 PJ; 26 Mt). The tsunami hit during high tide. [66], The greatest run-up height of the tsunami was measured at a hill between Lhoknga and Leupung, on the western coast of the northern tip of Sumatra, near Banda Aceh, and reached 51 m (167 ft). Maldives Report", "Death toll in Asian tsunami disaster tops 159,000", "Asian tsunami death toll passes 144,000", "Tsunami Evaluation Coalition: Initial Findings", "The South Sandwich Islands earthquake of 27 June 1929: seismological study and inference on tsunami risk for the southern Atlantic", "YEMEN: Tsunami damage over US$1 million – UNEP assessment", "Tsunamis Devastate Fisherfolk of Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea", "Impacts of the Tsunami on Fisheries, Aquaculture and Coastal Livelihoods", "Food supply and food security situation in countries affected by the Asia tsunami – Indonesia", "Demand for FRP boats rise after tsunami", Tsunami's salt water may leave islands uninhabitable, "The Indian Ocean Tsunami: Socio-Economic Impacts in Thailand", Tsunami redrew ship channels, ocean floor. Several near-shore establishments and numerous infrastructures such as seawalls and a 20 MW diesel-generated power plant at Bamboo Flat were destroyed. [157] Many charities were given considerable donations from the public. The most affected was Prakasham District, recording 35 deaths, with maximum damage at Singraikonda. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands appear to have shifted south-west by around 1.25 m (4 ft 1 in) and to have sunk by 1 m (3 ft 3 in). [87], The tsunami travelled 5,000 km (3,100 mi) west across the open ocean before striking the East African country of Somalia. More than 1,100 people were killed in another tsunami … The ground level was about 2 m above sea level, and there were many cottages and hotels. [51] Tsunami detection is not easy because while a tsunami is in deep water, it has little height and a network of sensors is needed to detect it. Only the Iraq War was named by as many respondents. Consequently, tsunami runup heights vary from 5 m (16 ft) to 9 m (30 ft) with inundation distances varying from 44 m (144 ft) to 704 m (2,310 ft). At Koh Sriboya, the tsunami advanced inland as a turbulent medium bore, while at Koh Phayam, Ranong Province, the tsunami appeared as a wall of water. The shift of mass and the massive release of energy slightly altered the Earth's rotation. [87], Interviews with local people indicate that they did not feel the earthquake in Taninthayi Division or Ayeyarwaddy Delta. The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake came just three days after a magnitude 8.1 earthquake in the sub-antarctic Auckland Islands, an uninhabited region west of New Zealand, and Macquarie Island to Australia's north. The tsunami resulted in about $10 billion of property damage and other material losses. The raising of the seafloor significantly reduced the capacity of the Indian Ocean, producing a permanent rise in the global sea level by an estimated 0.1 mm (0.004 in).[22]. [116] The impact on coastal fishing communities and the people living there, some of the poorest in the region, has been devastating with high losses of income earners as well as boats and fishing gear. The second wave came 10 minutes after the first one with a maximum height of 4.8 m (16 ft) to 8 m (26 ft) and caused the major destruction. An oceanic trench several kilometres wide was exposed in the earthquake zone.[39]. Banda Aceh reported the largest number of deaths. The deadliest-known earthquake in history occurred in 1556 in Shaanxi, China, with an estimated death toll of 830,000, though figures from this period may not be as reliable. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is working with governments of the region in order to determine the severity of the ecological impact and how to address it. [151], In the days following the tsunami, significant effort was spent in burying bodies hurriedly due to fear of disease spreading. On Karon Beach, Kamala Beach and Kata Beach, the tsunami came in like a surging flood inland carrying people and cars. [78] The tsunami travelled 2.5 km (1.6 mi) at its maximum inland at Karaikal, Puducherry. (2007). Some locations reported that the waves had reached a height of 30 feet (9 metres) or more when they hit the shoreline. The seismic waves of the earthquake were felt across the planet; as far away as the U.S. state of Oklahoma, where vertical movements of 3 mm (0.12 in) were recorded. [144] On further investigation, the India government learned that the consulting company Terra Research was run from the home of a self-described earthquake forecaster who had no telephone listing and maintained a website where he sold copies of his detection system. [156], In mid-March, the Asian Development Bank reported that over US$4 billion in aid promised by governments was behind schedule. The third wave was the strongest, with a maximum tsunami wave height of 11 m (36 ft). The inundation was observed to extend 3–4 km (1.9–2.5 mi) inland throughout the city. These are the three largest and most recent for Sweden (loss of life in a single disaster): 2004: 552 died in the Indian Ocean Tsunami. In many places, the waves reached as far as 2 km (1.2 mi) inland.[45]. One of the coolest events in memory was the tsunami of December 26, 2004. These tales and oral folklore from previous generations may have helped the survival of the inhabitants. In Malacca, located on the island of Car Nicobar, there were three tsunami waves. Helicopter surveys showed entire settlements virtually destroyed with destruction within miles inland, and only some mosques left standing. 1709: ~6900 died in Poltava. [71] Estimates based on the state of the shoreline and a high-water mark on a nearby building place the tsunami 7.5–9 m (25–30 ft) above sea level and 2–3 m (6 ft 7 in–9 ft 10 in) higher than the top of the train. [15] The plight of the affected people and countries prompted a worldwide humanitarian response, with donations totalling more than US$14 billion. The tsunami arrived approximately 2 hours after the earthquake. The earthquake was the third-largest ever recorded, the largest in the 21st century and had the longest duration of faulting ever observed, between eight and ten minutes. The wave killed tens of thousands of people and severely damaged the country’s northern, eastern, and southern coastal areas. It has been theorized that the tsunamis were focused and directed at long ranges by the mid-ocean ridges which run along the margins of the continental plates.[50]. Tsunami warning issued after tremors shake popular tourist destination The Asian tsunami on 26 December 2004 claimed the lives of 149 people who are British citizens or have close links to the UK, say police. [73] Moreover, the largest death toll occurred at Khao Lak, with about 5,000 people killed. John Rafferty, associate editor of Earth sciences at Encyclopædia Britannica, discussing tsunamis. Thailand experienced the second largest tsunami run-up. [155], According to USAID, the US has pledged additional funds in long-term U.S. support to help the tsunami victims rebuild their lives. This quake, together with the Good Friday earthquake (Alaska, 1964) and the Great Chilean earthquake (1960), account for almost half of the total moment. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The second and third destructive waves arrived later, which exceeded the height of the coconut trees. Furthermore, at the coastal town of Kanyakumari, the seabed was exposed briefly before a large wall of water can be seen on the horizon and subsequently flooding the town. The death toll in Indonesia was 170,000 people. Footage showed evidence of back-flowing of the Aceh River, carrying debris and people from destroyed villages at the coast and transporting them up to 40 km (25 mi) inland. Thailand was struck about two hours later despite being closer to the epicentre because the tsunami travelled more slowly in the shallow Andaman Sea off its western coast. A 2006 study estimated a magnitude of Mw 9.1–9.3; Hiroo Kanamori of the California Institute of Technology estimates that Mw 9.2 is representative of the earthquake's size. [90], The tsunami was detected in the southern parts of east Africa, where rough seas were reported, specifically on the eastern and southern coasts that face the Indian Ocean. The tsunami reached a run-up of 10–20 m (33–66 ft) on the western shoreline of Breueh Island and Nasi Island. [40] These satellites carry radars that measure precisely the height of the water surface; anomalies in the order of 500 mm (20 in) were measured. 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