Indina Ocean Tsunami

The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami

Abstract

Until couple of years ago phenomena acknowledged as the tsunami was not making most people in the world ponder on a potential worldwide disaster. However, December 26, 2004 changed the minds of all people and made them focus on the issue of this particular natural phenomenon. An earthquake in the magnitude of 9 hit Northwestern coast of Sumatra, an Indonesian Island, caused massive amount of death and widespread economic, physical and environmental damage in the regional countries and territories. The Tsunami was triggered by a slide on the fault where the oceanic fraction of the Indian Ocean plate slid under Sumatra thus creating a seismic event that displaced ocean water and created waves reaching 30 meters (100 feet) high that inundated communities in the coastal countries (Funk, 2005). The tsunami created massive destruction in the coastal region of the countries such as Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and Maldives.

Although there has been a long history of tsunamis in the Indian Ocean region, the 2004 tsunami was one of the most deadly natural disasters in recorded history. One of the aspects that caused such a high number casualties in the region is that there were no tsunami warning systems to warn the general public. In recent years there is now an awareness of the need for a tsunami warning system in Indian Ocean. Also another matter that has been criticized was the lack of coordination of aiding and assistance of the region after the disaster occurred. Although the aid supplied by other countries prevented such aftermath problems such as starvation and disease, studies on the event points out that in a future and possible disaster that might reoccur, the cooperation and coordination should be more effective.

1. Introduction

Tsunami triggered by a seismic event occurred on December 26, 2004 was a devastating event that destroyed miles of coastal area and created massive numbers of casualties and...