Download Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami

Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami
Causes and effects on Low Income Countries (LICs)
What happened
On 26 December 2004, an
earthquake measuring 9 on the
Richter scale was recorded in the
Indian Ocean off the north-west
coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The
earthquake produced a Tsunami, a
huge wave, that devastated the
coastal area of Indonesia, Sri Lanka,
India, Thailand and several other
countries with waves up to 15m in
height.
The earthquake was the fourth most
powerful since 1900. Tremors were
felt some 2100kms away in India.
The tsunami damaged as far away as
Somalia in East Africa 4500km.
Indian plate moves
towards Eurasian plate
Water above the
earthquake is
pushed up causing
the tsunami.
Indian plate is forced
down as it is oceanic
crust
Plate movement
causes earthquake.
Tsunami crashes into
land, devastating lowlying areas
In deep water the
tsunami travels at
800km/h.
In shallow water the
waves slow to
50km/h, merge and
increase in height to
15 metres.
Cut out the diagram and the information boxes. Stick the diagram in the centre of
you page and then link each box with the appropriate area of the diagram.
Causes of the earthquake and tsunami
The earthquake occurred on a destructive plate margin. Here the Indian and Eurasian plates
collide with each other at a rate of 6cm a year. As the two plates move towards each other,
pressure builds up. Eventually the pressure is released and this caused the Indian Ocean
earthquake.
The movement of the plate was both sudden and massive. It caused water above the
earthquake to be pushed upwards causing the tsunami. The tsunami waves then spread
rapidly out from the epicentre in all directions.
Effects
The Indian Ocean tsunami was the most deadly and destructive in history. No one will ever
know the exact number of people killed, but it is believed to be over 310,000. A third of these
were children, most of them washed away by the surging water. More than 650,000 people
were severely injured and 1,7 million made homeless as whole towns and villages were
flattened. Livelihoods were also lost as fishing, farming, forestry and tourist industries were
literally washed away. Estimates put the cost of the disaster at over £6 billion.
Why were the effects so serious?
Simply because the tsunami was so powerful and affected such a large area. Nothing could
withstand the destructive fore of the giant waves as they hit the shoreline around the Indian
Ocean.
The situation was made worse by the fact that the countries affected by the disaster are poor.
These countries therefore do not have enough money, organisation or technology to predict,
plan for or cope with major natural disasters. For example, there is no tsunami warning
system in place for the region. If people had known that the wave was on its way, many
thousands of lives may have been saved.
The world’s response
Help came to the stricken
countries from all around
the world. It included
food, clean water,
medical supplies,
machinery, expert
assistance and money.
The beginnings of a
tsunami warning system
for the Indian Ocean
region have been put in
place.
Problem in poorer, less developed countries:







Not enough technology to predict when a disaster
might occur.
Local rescue services are poorly equipped.
There are too few ambulances, hospital spaces,
nurses and doctors.
Buildings are often poorly constructed and easily
damaged.
Poor roads and unreliable transport hinder
emergency aid.
There is a shortage of emergency clothing, shelter
and medical supplies.
Lack of food and unhealthy living conditions may
lead to further deaths.