Indian Ocean Tsunami, 2004

Magnitude and depth

9.3MW, 30km depth

Plate type and movment

Destructive megathrust 15m displacement where Indo-Australian plate subducts the Burma plate

Primary impacts

300,000 dead, Vegetation damaged 800m inland, infrastructure destroyed (Nicobar island cut off), 14 countries impacted

Secondary impacts

1.7 million displaced, widespread contamination of water caused cholera and infertile land, $526million loss to fishing (sea trawlers destroyed Sri Lanka), coastal ecosystems destroyed

Immediate responses

$14 billion aid from 160 international organisations, Australian/US air force for search/rescue and air traffic control, effectiveness reduced by political barriers (Sri Lanka refusing Israel aid) and corruption

Long term responses

Focus on reconstruction/relocation (1000s still in tents 1 year later), $20million Tsunami warning system built, education, practice drills

Vulnerbaility

Absence of tsunami monitoring system, mangrove swamps removed for tourism, lack of education (‘drawback effect’), Indonesia 15 minutes away from fault rupture