Social Science SEA

Disaster Management

2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and

tsunami

Done By:

Srikar Tej 9-A

 Table of Contents:

S.no Title Pg.no.

1 Introduction 3

2 About the Disaster 5

3 Causes of the Disaster 8

4 Impact of the Disaster 10

5 Rescue & Relief Efforts 14

6 Conclusion 18

7 Bibliography 19
Introduction:

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami also known as the boxing day
tsunami, one of the most devastating natural disasters in recorded
history, is a significant event that has left an indelible mark on the
world. This project aims to explore the causes, impacts, and
aftermath of this catastrophic event, while focusing on the resilience
and recovery of the affected regions.
On December 26, 2004, an undersea megathrust earthquake, with
an estimated magnitude
of 9.1–9.3 on the
Richter scale, occurred
off the west coast of
northern Sumatra,
Indonesia. The
earthquake was one of
the strongest ever
recorded and generated
an extraordinarily
destructive tsunami
that radiated across the
Indian Ocean.
The tsunami waves, reaching heights of up to 30 meters, travelled at
high speeds and hit 14 countries, causing widespread destruction.
The hardest-hit countries included Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka,
India, and the Maldives. The disaster resulted in an estimated
230,000 to 280,000 fatalities, making it one of the deadliest
tsunamis in history.
The tsunami caused extensive damage to infrastructure, including
homes, roads, and entire towns, leaving millions homeless. It also
had severe impacts on the region’s economy, particularly the
fishing and tourism industries. The environmental consequences
were equally significant, with damage to ecosystems such as coral
reefs, mangroves, and coastal forests.
In the aftermath of
the disaster, the
international
community rallied
to provide aid and
support to the
affected regions.
The response
included massive
relief efforts,
reconstruction
projects, and the Aftermath of the destruction of the 2004 tsunami
development of better
tsunami early warning systems. Despite the scale of the disaster, the
affected regions have shown remarkable resilience and have made
significant progress in recovery and rebuilding efforts.
This project will delve into the various aspects of the 2004 Indian
Ocean tsunami, providing a comprehensive overview of the event.
It will examine the scientific causes behind the tsunami, the
immediate impacts and long-term effects on the affected regions,
and the global response to the disaster. The project will also
highlight the lessons learned from the event and the measures taken
to mitigate future disasters.
About the Disaster:
On December 26, 2004, a massive earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1
struck off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, triggering a series of
powerful tsunamis that spread across the Indian Ocean. The
earthquake was one of the strongest ever recorded, and the resulting
tsunamis were among the deadliest natural disasters in history. The
waves reached heights of up to 30 meters (100 feet) and traveled at
speeds of up to 800 kilometers (500 miles) per hour, devastating
coastal areas in 14 countries, including Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India,
Thailand, Maldives, and Somalia. The death toll was estimated at
around 227,898 people, with millions more injured, displaced, or
affected by the disaster.
The earthquake occurred along the boundary of the Indo-Australian
and Eurasian tectonic
plates, where the former
was subducting under
the latter. The rupture
lasted for about 10
minutes, releasing an
enormous amount of
energy equivalent to
23,000 Hiroshima
atomic bombs. The
displacement of the
seafloor caused by the
quake lifted a huge
volume of water,
creating a series of
waves that radiated outward from the epicenter. The waves traveled
across the ocean basin, reaching the shores of various countries within
hours. The waves were amplified by the shallow waters and the shape
of the coastlines, causing massive flooding, erosion, and destruction
of infrastructure, vegetation, and wildlife. The waves also carried
debris, sediment, and corpses, creating health and environmental
hazards for the survivors.
The impact of the tsunami varied depending on the location, the
distance from the epicenter, the direction of the waves, the timing of
the tide, and the preparedness of the people.
The tsunami caught most of the people unaware, as there was no
effective early warning system in place for the Indian Ocean region.
The earthquake itself was not felt by many people along the coasts,
and the first signs of the approaching waves were often subtle, such as
the withdrawal of the sea or the appearance of bubbles and foam.
Many people were curious or unaware of the danger and did not
evacuate to higher ground. Some of the people who did notice the
waves tried to outrun them or seek shelter in buildings, but were
overtaken or trapped by the water. Some of the people who survived
the first wave were caught by the subsequent waves, which were often
stronger and higher. The lack of communication, transportation, and
rescue facilities also hampered the efforts to save lives and provide
relief.
The earthquake that
caused the tsunami
was so powerful
that it shifted the
Earth’s axis by an
estimated 2.5 to 15
centimeters (1 to 6
inches), and
shortened the day
by 2.68
microseconds. The
tsunami waves
traveled as far as 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles) to Africa, where they
killed more than 300 people in Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles,
Madagascar, and South Africa. The tsunami also affected the
environment and wildlife in various ways. It damaged coral reefs,
mangrove forests, coastal wetlands, and seagrass beds, which are
important habitats for many marine species. It also caused soil
erosion, saltwater intrusion, and water pollution, affecting agriculture
and freshwater resources. It also killed or displaced many animals,
such as elephants, tigers, turtles, crocodiles, birds, and fish. Some
animals, however, showed signs of sensing the impending danger and
moved to higher ground before the waves hit. The tsunami generated
a lot of scientific and public interest in the phenomenon of tsunamis
and the need for better preparedness and warning systems. It also
inspired many studies and research projects on the causes, effects, and
prevention of
tsunamis. It
also raised
awareness and
appreciation
of the cultural
and natural
diversity of
the affected
regions, and the importance of preserving and protecting them.
Cause of the Disaster:
The earthquake that triggered the tsunami occurred on December 26,
2004, at 7:59 am local time,
off the coast of Sumatra,
Indonesia. It had a magnitude
of 9.1, making it one of the
strongest earthquakes ever
recorded. earthquake. The
earthquake occurred along the
boundary of two tectonic
plates: the Indo-Australian
plate and the Eurasian plate.
These plates are large pieces
of the Earth’s crust that move slowly over the mantle, the layer of hot
and molten rock below the crust. year. The boundary between these
plates is a subduction zone, where the Indo-Australian plate is sliding
under the Eurasian plate. This process creates a lot of friction and tens
ion between the plates, which builds up over time. When the plates
suddenly slip past each other, they release a huge amount of energy in
the form of seismic waves, which cause the ground to shake. This is
what happened on December
26, 2004. The earthquake
was caused by a rupture
along a 1,300 km (810 miles)
long segment of the
subduction zone, where the
plates had been stuck for
decades. The rupture moved
at a speed of about 2.5 km
(1.6 miles) per second,
breaking the plates apart.
The earthquake also caused a vertical displacement of the seafloor,
which means that some parts of the seafloor were lifted up, while
others were pushed down. The displacement was estimated to be
between 15 and 20 meters (49 and 66 feet) along the fault. This
movement of the seafloor displaced a huge volume of water,
estimated to be about 30 cubic kilometres (7.2 cubic miles). The water
then formed a series of waves that radiated outward from the
epicentre of the earthquake, traveling across the ocean basin. These
waves are called tsunamis, which means “harbour waves” in
Japanese.
The tsunamis that resulted from the earthquake were very powerful
and destructive. They reached speeds of up to 800 km (500 miles) per
hour, which is faster than a jet plane. They also had wavelengths of up
to 200 km (120 miles), which means that the distance between two
consecutive wave crests was very long. This made the tsunamis
difficult to detect and measure in the open ocean, where they had
relatively low heights of about 0.5 to 1 meter (1.6 to 3.3 feet).
However, as the
tsunamis approached
the coasts, they
encountered shallower
water, which slowed
them down and
increased their heights.
The shape and
orientation of the
coastlines also affected
the height and direction
of the waves,
amplifying or reducing
their impact. Some of the tsunamis reached heights of up to 30 meters
(100 feet) when they hit the shore, causing massive flooding, erosion,
and destruction of infrastructure, vegetation, and wildlife. The
tsunamis also carried debris, sediment, and corpses, creating health
and environmental hazards for the survivors. 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). This energy is equivalent to over
1,500 times that of the Hiroshima atomic bomb.
Impact of the Disaster:
The impact of the tsunami was immense and varied, depending on the
location, the distance from the epicentre, the direction of the waves,
the timing of the tide, and the preparedness of the people. Some of the
worst affected areas were the northern tip of Sumatra, especially the
province of Aceh, where the waves reached up to 6 kilometres (3.7
miles) inland and killed more than 170,000 people; the eastern and
southern coasts of Sri Lanka, where the waves killed more than
35,000 people and displaced more than half a million; the
southeastern coast of India,
especially the state of Tamil Nadu
and the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands, where the waves killed
more than 16,000 people and
affected more than 2.5 million; the
western coast of Thailand,
especially the tourist resorts of
Phuket and Khao Lak, where the waves killed more than 8,000
people, including many foreigners; and the low-lying islands of
Maldives, where the waves inundated most of the land and killed
more than 80 people. The total death toll was estimated at around
227,898 people, with millions more injured, displaced, or affected by
the disaster.
The tsunami caused widespread destruction and loss of infrastructure,
vegetation, and wildlife. It damaged coral reefs, mangrove forests,
coastal wetlands, and seagrass beds, which are important habitats for
many marine species. It also caused soil erosion, saltwater intrusion,
and water pollution, affecting agriculture and freshwater resources. It
also killed or displaced many animals, such as elephants, tigers,
turtles, crocodiles, birds, and fish. Some animals, however, showed
signs of sensing the impending danger and moved to higher ground
before the waves hit.
The tsunami also posed serious health and environmental hazards for
the survivors. The waves carried debris, sediment, and corpses,
creating a risk of infection and disease. The lack of food, clean water,
and medical treatment
also contributed to the
suffering and mortality
of the affected people.
The psychological
trauma, grief, and
stress also affected the
mental health and
well-being of the
survivors. The
displacement and
disruption of the social
and economic
networks also affected
the livelihood and
security of the affected
people.
The tsunami also had a
significant economic
impact on the affected
regions. It left several billions of dollars of economic loss affecting
fishing and tourist industries, which are the main sources of income
for many coastal communities. It also affected the trade and
transportation sectors, as well as the public and private services. The
reconstruction and recovery efforts also required a huge amount of
financial and human resources, as well as international cooperation
and assistance.
The tsunami also generated a lot of scientific and public interest in the
phenomenon of tsunamis and the need for better preparedness and
warning systems. It also inspired many studies and research projects
on the causes, effects, and prevention of tsunamis. It also raised
awareness and appreciation of the cultural and natural diversity of the
affected regions, and the importance of preserving and protecting
them.
India was one of the countries that suffered the most from the 2004
Indian Ocean tsunami, which was triggered by a massive earthquake
off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, on December 26, 2004. The
tsunami waves reached the southeastern coast of India within two
hours of the earthquake, and also affected the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands, which are part of India’s territory. The tsunami caused
immense destruction and loss of life, as well as social, economic, and
environmental impacts, in the affected regions of India.
According to official estimates, 10,749 people were killed, 5,640
people were missing, and thousands of people became homeless in
India due to the tsunami. The state of Tamil Nadu was the worst hit,
with 8,009 deaths and 2,406 missing. The Andaman and Nicobar
Islands reported 1,505 deaths and 3,234 missing. The other states that
were affected were Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Pondicherry, with
170, 21, and 8 deaths respectively. The death toll also included many
foreign tourists who were visiting the coastal areas of India.
The tsunami caused widespread damage and destruction of
infrastructure, property, and livelihoods in the coastal areas of India.
It destroyed or damaged more than 100,000 houses, 10,000 fishing
boats, 2,000 fishing nets, and 300,000 hectares of agricultural land. It
also affected the power supply, communication, transportation, and
health facilities in the affected regions. The fishing and tourism
industries, which are the main sources of income for many coastal
communities, were severely affected by the loss of assets, markets,
and customers. The total economic loss due to the tsunami was
estimated at around 1.5 billion US dollars.
The tsunami also posed serious health and environmental challenges
for the survivors and the relief workers. The corpses, debris, and
sediment that were carried by the waves created a risk of infection
and disease, especially cholera, typhoid, and malaria. The lack of
food, clean water, and medical treatment also contributed to the
suffering and mortality of the affected people. The psychological
trauma, grief, and stress also affected the mental health and well-
being of the survivors. The displacement and disruption of the social
and cultural networks also affected the identity and security of the
affected people, especially the women, children, and elderly
The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was a tragic disaster for India that
exposed the vulnerability of the
coastal communities and the need for
better disaster management and
prevention. The Indian government
and the international community
responded with a massive
humanitarian aid and reconstruction
effort, totalling more than 2 billion
US dollars. The affected regions also established a regional tsunami
warning system, improved their coastal defences, and promoted
disaster education and awareness.

Recovery from the tsunami took a combined effort over many

months.

Actual live footage of the tsunami.

Rescue & Relief Efforts:
The Indian government and the international community responded
with a massive humanitarian aid and reconstruction effort, totalling
more than 2 billion US dollars. The Indian Armed Forces played a
crucial role in the
rescue and relief
operations, launching
two simultaneous
missions: “Operation
Madad” for mainland
rescue operations in
India and “Operation
Sea Waves” for rescue
operations in the
Andaman and Nicobar
Islands.
Operation Madad involved the deployment of more than 10,000
personnel, 32 ships, 41 aircraft, and 139 helicopters of the Indian
Navy, Army, and Air Force. The operation focused on providing
immediate assistance to the affected people, such as search and
rescue, evacuation, medical care, food and water distribution, and
communication. The operation also involved the restoration of
essential services,
such as power
supply,
transportation, and
health facilities. The
operation covered the
states of Tamil Nadu,
Kerala, Andhra
Pradesh, and
Pondicherry, as well
as the Lakshadweep
Islands.
Operation Sea Waves
involved the deployment of more than 5,000 personnel, 17 ships, 29
aircraft, and 41 helicopters of the Indian Navy, Army, and Air Force.
The operation faced many challenges, such as the remoteness and
inaccessibility of the islands, the lack of communication and
information, the damage to the airfields and ports, and the security
threat from the pro-independence rebels in the islands. The operation
focused on providing immediate assistance to the affected people,
such as search and rescue, evacuation, medical care, foo d and water
distribution, and communication. The operation also involved the
restoration of essential services, such as power supply, transportation,
and health facilities. The operation covered the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands, which consist of more than
500 islands.
The Indian Armed Forces also
provided assistance to the
neighbouring countries affected by
the tsunami, such as Indonesia, Sri
Lanka, Maldives, and Thailand. The
Indian Navy deployed 14 ships, 12
aircraft, and 16 helicopters to these
countries, carrying relief materials,
medical teams, and engineering teams. The Indian Air Force also
airlifted relief materials, medical teams, and engineering teams to
these countries. The Indian Armed Forces also coordinated with the
other countries and international organizations involved in the relief
operations, such as the United States, Japan, Australia, and the United
Nations.
The rescue and relief operations of the Indian Armed Forces were
widely praised for their speed, efficiency, and professionalism. The
operations also demonstrated the capabilities and readiness of the
Indian Armed Forces to respond to natural disasters and humanitarian
crises, both within and outside the country. The operations also
enhanced the goodwill and cooperation between India and the other
countries affected by the tsunami, as well as the international
community.
The international community responded with a massive humanitarian
aid and reconstruction effort, totalling more than 14 billion US
dollars, not only for India but some or all of the countries affected.
Many countries and organizations provided assistance to the affected
regions, in terms of financial, material, technical, and human
resources. Some of the major contributors and their contributions are
as follows:

• Japan: Japan was the largest donor, pledging more than 500
million US dollars in grants and loans, as well as sending more
than 1,000 personnel, 15 ships, 21 aircraft, and 40 helicopters to
the affected countries. Japan also provided relief materials,
medical teams, engineering teams, and water purification
units. Japan also supported the establishment of a regional
tsunami warning system and the reconstruction of infrastructure
and livelihoods.
• United States: The United States pledged more than 350 million
US dollars in grants and loans, as well as sending more than
15,000 personnel, 25 ships, 58 aircraft, and 45 helicopters to the
affected countries.
The United States
also provided
relief materials,
medical teams,
engineering teams,
and water
purification
units. The United
States also
supported the
establishment of a regional tsunami warning system and the
reconstruction of infrastructure and livelihoods.
• Australia: Australia pledged more than 800 million Australian
dollars (about 600 million US dollars) in grants and loans, as
well as sending more than 900 personnel, 6 ships, 12 aircraft,
and 16 helicopters to the affected countries. Australia also
provided relief materials, medical teams, engineering teams, and
water purification units. Australia also supported the
establishment of a regional tsunami warning system and the
reconstruction of infrastructure and livelihoods, especially in
Indonesia.
 • European Union: The European Union pledged more than 350
million euros (about 450 million US dollars) in grants and loans,
as well as sending more than 1,000 personnel, 10 ships, 20
aircraft, and 30 helicopters to the affected countries. The
European Union also provided relief materials, medical teams,
engineering teams, and water purification units. The European
Union also supported the establishment of a regional tsunami
warning system and the reconstruction of infrastructure and
livelihoods.
• United Nations: The United Nations coordinated the
humanitarian response and mobilized more than 1 billion US
dollars from its member states and agencies, as well as sending
more than 2,000 personnel, 20 aircraft, and 30 vehicles to the
affected countries. The United Nations also provided relief
materials, medical teams, engineering teams, and water
purification units. The United Nations also supported the
establishment of a regional tsunami warning system and the
reconstruction of infrastructure and livelihoods, especially in Sri
Lanka.

These are some of the major contributors and their contributions to

the rescue and relief efforts for the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in
India and other affected countries. There were also many other
countries and organizations that provided assistance in various forms
and capacities, such as Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia,
New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, World
Bank, Asian Development Bank, International Federation of Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Oxfam, Save the Children, and
many more. The rescue and relief efforts were widely praised for their
speed, efficiency, and generosity, as well as for the cooperation and
coordination among the various participants involved.
Conclusion:
The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was one of the most devastating
natural disasters in history, affecting millions of people in 14
countries around the Indian Ocean. The tsunami caused immense
destruction and loss of life, as well as social, economic, and
environmental impacts, in the affected regions. The tsunami also
exposed the vulnerability of the coastal communities and the need for
better disaster management and prevention. The international
community responded with a massive humanitarian aid and
reconstruction effort, totalling more than 14 billion US dollars. The
affected countries also established a regional tsunami warning system,
improved their coastal defences, and promoted disaster education and
awareness. The survivors of the tsunami faced many challenges, such
as trauma, grief, poverty, disease, and displacement, but also showed
resilience, solidarity, and hope for the future. The 2004 Indian Ocean
tsunami was a tragic event that left a lasting mark on the world, but
also inspired many scientific and public interest in the phenomenon of
tsunamis and the importance of preserving and protecting the cultural
and natural diversity of the affected regions. Natural disasters are
inevitable and unpredictable, but human actions can either mitigate or
exacerbate their consequences. This is one in which we have suffered
a lot but have worked hard to reduce its effects. Not just this disaster,
but in all natural disasters, we put aside everything else to solve the
main problem at hand.

THANK YOU
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