Tsunami case study: Indian Ocean

Question 1

When was the tsunami?

Answer 1

26th December 2004

Question 2

What did it measured on the richter scale?

Answer 2

9.1

Question 3

What caused the tsunami?

Answer 3

The Indo-Australian pate which under lies the Indian Ocean is drifting north-east at an average of 5cm a year. Where this meets the Burma plate, it subducts beneath it. An estimate of 1600km of fault surface slipped about 15m along the subduction zone displacing 30km2 of water.

Question 4

What was the height of the wave?

Answer 4

24m in height rising to 30m when travelling inland.

Question 5

Name 5 primary effects:

Answer 5

• 236,210 estimated deaths
• 184,167 confirmed deaths
• 1.6 million people were displaced
• up to 9000 foreign tourists were killed, 540 from Sweeden
• it was estimated that 1,500 settlements are believed to have been wiped out completely

Question 6

Name 3 secondary effects:

Answer 6

• unemployment rates rose massively
• due to many fishermen being killed, the fishing industry was affected badly
• it is estimated that the total rebuilding costs across the area will amount to over $8 billion.

Question 7

Name 3 immediate responses:

Answer 7

• they got given supplies from other countries
• fresh water, water purification tablets, food, sheeting and tents all poured in as aid
• bodies that littered the streets before were being buried in mass graves.

Question 8

Name 3 longer term responses:

Answer 8

• they built 20,000 houses for the homeless
• 1 year later, £372 million had been donated by the British public, but only £128 million had been spent by Disasters Emergency Committee
• the Indian Ocean Tsunami warning system was set up in June 2006