The Indian Ocean Earthquake 2004

Question 1

when did the earthquake occur?

Answer 1

26 December 2004

Question 2

what was the magnitude of the earthquake?

Answer 2

9.0/9.3 (second biggest earthquake)

Question 3

what did the earthquake cause?

Answer 3

• Tsunami travelled thousands of kilometers

- Caused: massive tsunami which displaced thousands into refugee camps

Question 4

Fatalities?

Answer 4

• 300,000

- Across 2 continents

Question 5

how did it impact crops?

Answer 5

vegetation and top soil were removed up to 800 km inland

Question 6

impacts on infrastructure?

Answer 6

• Andaman and Nicobar Islands were all but cut off

- Coastal settlements were devastated e.g. Banda Aceh in Sumatra was obliterated

Question 7

secondary impacts

Answer 7

• widespread homelessness: 600,000 people were forced into refugee camps In Aceh Province Indonesia
• economies devastated:
• fishing
• agriculture
• tourism sector e.g. 44% lost their livelihood
• in Thailand £266M fishing industry was much more impacted than the tourism sector

Question 8

Negative Multiplier Effect

Answer 8

e. g. Sri Lanka
- loss of deep sea trenches = fewer catches - less likely to reach market - fewer refrigerated trucks = limited food supply + infrastructure damaged as a result of the tsunami +earthquake

Question 9

Immediate responses

Answer 9

• Massive international relief efforts were established. This involved, 160 aid organisations + UN agencies.
• Assistance provided by foreign military troops e.g. Australian Air Force improved Banda Aceh airport Indonesia.

Question 10

Long term responses

Answer 10

• large-scale programmes by reconstruction implemented. BUT … thousands of tents are still being lived in a year on
• Existing government prejudices were highlighted e.g. India, Dalits an underclass area was completely ignored by the government
• education on tsunami awareness began in schools
• practice drills and evacuation plans were established
• coastal zones were hazard-mapped to identify areas most at risk.