how many people survived the 2004 tsunami

Where did the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami occur? The deadliest tsunami in history occurred in the Indian Ocean in 2004. On the east coast of Phuket Island, the tsunami height was about 2 m. In one river mouth, many boats were damaged. [137], While the tsunami destroyed many of the boats vital to Sri Lanka's fishing industry, it also created a demand for fibreglass-reinforced plastic catamarans in the boatyards of Tamil Nadu. The 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami was a result of an underwater earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The hospital director asked me to go to help implant microchips into the dead bodies as requested by the forensic police. The tsunami severely affected the Maldives at a distance of 2,500km (1,600mi) from the epicentre. The north bay of Phi Phi Don Island opens to the north-west in the direction of the tsunami. Which celebrity lost their parents in the tsunami? A rise in sea level was observed before the first wave came within 5 minutes of the earthquake. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. [citation needed], The hardest-hit area, Aceh, is a religiously conservative Islamic society and has had no tourism nor any Western presence in recent years due to the insurgency between the Indonesian military and Free Aceh Movement (GAM). The largest run-up measured was at 12.5m (41ft) with inundation distance of 3901,500m (1,2804,920ft) in Yala. Sat 26 Mar 2005 07.50 EST. The area toward the sea was wiped clean of nearly every structure, while closer to the river, dense construction in a commercial district showed the effects of severe flooding. But we didn't have a plan for something this big. Earthquake and subsequent tsunami in the Indian Ocean, Campbell, Matthew; Loveard, Keith; et al. Epidemics were of particular concern due to the high population density and tropical climate of the affected areas. [47][48], According to Tad Murty, vice-president of the Tsunami Society, the total energy of the tsunami waves was equivalent to about 5 megatons of TNT (21PJ), which is more than twice the total explosive energy used during all of World War II (including the two atomic bombs) but still a couple of orders of magnitude less than the energy released in the earthquake itself. When I first arrived, the local police took me to Wat Yan Yao, where there were thousands of dead bodies waiting to be identified. The divers reported being caught in a violent, swirling current suddenly while underwater. The tsunami reached the states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu along the southeastern coastline of the Indian mainland about 2 hours after the earthquake. The number of deaths currently stands at 68 with 5 people missing. I'd been a rescue worker all my life but I'd never experienced anything that huge before. Deadly tsunami 1 26 December 2004 2 Triggered by 8.9 magnitude earthquake near Aceh, north Indonesia, at 07:59 local time (00:59 GMT) 3 Affected 14 countries 4 Nearly quarter of a million people died 5 Two million left homeless. All I knew was I had to help people. Island folklore recounted an earthquake and tsunami in 1907, and the islanders fled to inland hills after the initial shaking and before the tsunami struck. [145], The 2004 earthquake and tsunami combined is the world's deadliest natural disaster since the 1976 Tangshan earthquake. Animation of how the tsunami moved around the Indian Ocean. Comparisons with earlier earthquakes are difficult, as earthquake strength only began to be measured systematically in the 1930s. Tsunamis are giant waves that are produced when a large volume of water is displaced in an ocean or large lake by an earthquake, volcanic eruption, underwater landslide or meteorite. Even beach resorts in parts of Thailand which were untouched by the tsunami were hit by cancellations. Approximately 8,000 people were killed. We decided to head toward Phi Phi island as it wasn't too far and they had been badly hit. Eyewitnesses compared the tsunami with the "rainy-season high tide"; although at most locations, the tsunami height was similar or smaller than the "rainy-season high tide" level. It also benefited from the fact that the earthquake proceeded more slowly in the northern rupture zone, greatly reducing the energy of the water displacements in that region. Each of these megathrust earthquakes . The day that changed tsunami science. Ghosh Roy. Some 37,000 people are missing. How many peoples survived tsunami 2004? Its over 1,700-foot wave was the largest ever recorded for a tsunami. [15] The earthquake (followed by the tsunami) was felt in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The aftershock would be considered a major earthquake under ordinary circumstances but is dwarfed by the mainshock. A series of huge waves triggered by an earthquake killed more than 230,000 people in 14 countries. The tsunami arrived on the island as a small brown-orange-colored flood. One of the survivors, a man named Cornelius . The tsunami was noticed as far as Struisbaai in South Africa, about 8,500km (5,300mi) away, where a 1.5-metre-high (5ft) tide surged on shore about 16 hours after the earthquake. At 08:00, I heard my wooden bedroom windows were shaking. [72] In Sri Lanka, the civilian casualties were second only to those in Indonesia, with approximately 35,000 killed. The second and third waves were 1530m (4998ft) high at the coast and appeared like gigantic surfing waves but "taller than the coconut trees and was like a mountain". I contacted my friend who was in the navy and he told me it was a tsunami. When we arrived, it wasn't something I expected. There were two to five tsunamis that coincided with the local high tide in some areas. I went out with my other sons and friends to look for my eldest son. Officials also hoped that piracy in the region would drop off, since the tsunami had killed pirates and destroyed their boats. Peninsular Malaysia was shielded by the full force of the tsunami due to the protection offered by the island of Sumatra, which lies just off the western coast. Distance alone was no guarantee of safety, as Somalia was hit harder than Bangladesh despite being much farther away. I was looking for the nearest way out but I knew I wouldn't be able to make it. The earthquake was the third-largest ever recorded based upon seismographic measurements, the largest in the 21st century and had the longest duration of faulting ever observed, between eight and ten minutes. [31], The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake is thought to have triggered activity in both Leuser Mountain[32] and Mount Talang,[33] volcanoes in Aceh along the same range of peaks, while the 2005 NiasSimeulue earthquake had sparked activity in Lake Toba, an ancient crater in Sumatra. It took me half a day to find him. The low-lying island country of Maldives reported more than a hundred casualties and immense economic damage. In some areas drinking water supplies and farm fields may have been contaminated for years by saltwater from the ocean. 26, 2004, when a 9.1 magnitude earthquake off the Indonesian coast sent tidal wave speeding toward Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Scientists had developed significant ecological expertise from work with the Great Barrier Reef, in Australia's northeastern waters. Large tsunamis have occurred in the United States and will undoubtedly occur again. It was the day after the hospital staff party - it was my day off and I had a long lie-in. In 1782, about 40,000 people are thought to have been killed by a tsunami (or a cyclone) in the South China Sea. Tens of thousands were reported dead or missing in Sri Lanka and India, a large number of them from the Indian Andaman and Nicobar Islands territory. Indonesian officials estimated that the death toll there alone ultimately exceeded 200,000, particularly in northern Sumatras Aceh province. Also Know, how did people die in the 2004 tsunami? The raising of the seafloor significantly reduced the capacity of the Indian Ocean, producing a permanent rise in the global sea level by an estimated 0.1mm (0.004in).[27]. On December 26, 2004, a massive tsunami triggered by an earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, killed more than 230,000 people in 14 countries. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". An estimated 1,600km (1,000mi) of fault surface slipped (or ruptured) about 15m (50ft) along the subduction zone where the Indian Plate slides under (or subducts) the overriding Burma Plate. Often, the worst tsunamis are not the largest. The 71 casualties can be attributed to poor housing infrastructure and additionally, the fact that the coastal residents in the surveyed areas live on flat land along the coast, especially in the Ayeyarwaddy Delta, and that there is no higher ground to which to evacuate. [30] On the island of Pulau Weh, strong surges were experienced in the port of Sabang, yet there was little damage with reported runup values of 35m (9.816.4ft), most likely due to the island being sheltered from the direct attack by the islands to the south-west. Officials estimated that billions of dollars would be needed. A person will be just swept up in it and carried along as debris; theres no swimming out of a tsunami, Garrison-Laney says. Tsunamis are more frequent in the Pacific Ocean than in other oceans because of earthquakes in the "Ring of Fire". Of all the moment released by earthquakes in the 100 years from 1906 through 2005, roughly one eighth was due to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. A series of huge waves triggered by an earthquake killed more than 230,000 people in 14 countries. At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. In Xaafuun, small drawbacks were observed before the third and most powerful tsunami wave flooded the town. The third wave was the strongest, with a maximum tsunami wave height of 11m (36ft). An unusually high number of the victims appear to have been children, lost to epic waves that swept away the weak, the old and the young. [45] Unlike data from tide gauges installed on shores, measurements obtained in the middle of the ocean can be used for computing the parameters of the source earthquake without having to compensate for the complex ways in which proximity to the coast changes the size and shape of a wave. [28] The earthquake produced its own aftershocks (some registering a magnitude of as high as 6.1) and presently ranks as the third-largest earthquake ever recorded on the moment magnitude or Richter magnitude scale. [139], Countries in the region appealed to tourists to return, pointing out that most tourist infrastructure is undamaged. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. [59] Many of the aboriginal tribes evacuated and suffered fewer casualties, however. 250,000 people survived the 2004 Sumatra Tsunami. About 250 people perished directly in the tsunami. She and her parents warned others on the beach, which was evacuated safely. Preliminary estimates indicated that 66% of the fishing fleet and industrial infrastructure in coastal regions were destroyed by the wave surges. Eyewitnesses described the tsunami as a "black giant", "mountain" and a "wall of water". If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. On the island's east coast, the tsunami contaminated wells on which many villagers relied for drinking water. Most of them had broken bones or cuts on their bodies. In the Maldives, 16 to 17 coral reef atolls that were overcome by sea waves are without fresh water and could be rendered uninhabitable for decades. Why were so many buildings destroyed in the 2011 Japanese earthquake? [164], In the days following the tsunami, significant effort was spent in burying bodies hurriedly due to fear of disease spreading. The tsunami and its aftermath were responsible for immense destruction and loss on the rim of the Indian Ocean. [153][154] The extensive international media coverage of the tsunami, and the role of mass media and journalists in reconstruction, were discussed by editors of newspapers and broadcast media in tsunami-affected areas, in special video-conferences set up by the Asia Pacific Journalism Centre. One of the few coastal areas to evacuate ahead of the tsunami was on the Indonesian island of Simeulue, close to the epicentre. All I saw were dead bodies floating in the water. This was succeeded by the appearance of two large black-coloured steep waves which then travelled inland into the capital city as a large turbulent bore. Levels remained relatively low for some years. However, when the seawalls were made of loose stones, the stones were displaced and carried a few metres inland.[79][81][85]. Thailand was struck about two hours later despite being closer to the epicentre because the tsunami travelled more slowly in the shallow Andaman Sea off its western coast. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? 26. My son's three friends told me he was missing. Moreover, the tsunami was detected by scuba divers around offshore islands like the Similan Islands and the Surin Islands. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Many people who survived the first wave may have gone to the shore to help others or check on their property, not knowing that a tsunami can be multiple waves spaced many minutes to 1 or 2 hours apart. [40] Because of tidal effects of the Moon, the length of a day increases at an average of 15 microseconds per year, so any rotational change due to the earthquake will be lost quickly. I was stationed close to Patong Hospital on a rescue truck. The direct results caused major disruptions to living conditions and commerce in coastal provinces of surrounded countries, including Aceh (Indonesia), Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu (India) and Khao Lak (Thailand). Given that over 51,000 vessels were lost to the tsunami, the industry boomed. What was the magnitude of the earthquake that caused the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004? He was trapped and died inside the building where he was. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? The impact of the waves was so severe that four oil tankers were thrown almost 800m (2,600ft) from the seashore near Malacca to the Air force colony main gate. play prodigy parent login P.O. The northern section of the Sunda megathrust ruptured over a length of 1,300km (810mi). The maximum runup height of almost 9m (30ft) was recorded in Bandarbeyla. who survived the 2004 tsunami, and was also filmed in Khao Lak. In addition to a large number of local residents, up to 9,000 foreign tourists (mostly Europeans) enjoying the peak holiday travel season were among the dead or missing, especially people from the Nordic countries. He told me: 'This can't be good.'. The 2004 tsunami was the more devastating tsunami in damage, with a death toll of more than 5,000 deaths, but the Lituya Bay mega-tsunami was roughly 15 times higher but only a death toll of 4 or . 250,000 people survived the 2004 Sumatra Tsunami. That's because between 15,000 and 20,000 people lived in Pompeii and Herculaneum, and the majority of them survived Vesuvius' catastrophic eruption. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. [74][72] Waves measured on the east coast ranged from 4.59m (1530ft) at Pottuvill to Batticaloa at 2.65m (8ft 6in 16ft 5in) in the north-east around Trincomalee and 45m (1316ft) in the west coast from Moratuwa to Ambalangoda. 2004 Description: Area detail before tsunami Source: DigitalGlobe Kalutara Water Detail Imagery collected December 26, 2004 Description: Receding waters from . Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Thailand experienced the second largest tsunami run-up. The agreement explicitly cites the tsunami as a justification. Find a sturdy building and head for the roof. [156] The announcement generated panic in the Indian Ocean region and caused thousands to flee their homes, which resulted in jammed roads. Funding came from other international agencies and from countries including Finland, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. After the tsunami, there was some concern that the country might be submerged entirely and become uninhabitable. [128], In response to the unprecedented situation, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) worked with governments in the region to determine the severity of the ecological impact and how to address it. The surface waves can be clearly seen to reinforce near the antipode (with the closest seismic stations in Ecuador), and to subsequently encircle the planet to return to the epicentral region after about 200 minutes. This may affect rehabilitation work to follow. The epicenter was just off the coast It does not store any personal data. [157] On further investigation, the India government learned that the consulting company Terra Research was run from the home of a self-described earthquake forecaster who had no telephone listing and maintained a website where he sold copies of his detection system. [156] In response, the Indian Minister of Home Affairs announced that a fresh onslaught of deadly tsunami was likely along the southern Indian coast and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, even as there was no sign of turbulence in the region. After a pause of about another 100 seconds, the rupture continued northwards towards the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Each of these megathrust earthquakes also spawned tsunamis in the Pacific Ocean. There were no tsunami warning systems in the Indian Ocean to detect tsunamis or to warn the general population living around the ocean. I continued to sit there waiting to get an emergency call. Almost all of the Onge people seemed to have survived the tsunami. Rahmat Saiful Bahri survived the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 that swept over Indonesias Aceh province. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The ground level was about 2 m above sea level, where there were many cottages and hotels. [4] Radar satellites recorded the heights of tsunami waves in deep water: maximum height was at 600mm (2ft) two hours after the earthquake, the first such observations ever made. The rupture proceeded at about 2.8km/s (1.74mi/s; 10,100km/h; 6,260mph), beginning off the coast of Aceh and proceeding north-westerly over about 100 seconds. [57] On Maikhao Beach in north Phuket City, Thailand, a 10-year-old British tourist named Tilly Smith had studied tsunamis in geography at school and recognised the warning signs of the receding ocean and frothing bubbles. Who survived the tsunami? The United Nations estimated at the outset that the relief operation would be the costliest in human history. Petra Nemcova, supermodel who survived 2004 Indonesia tsunami, helps rebuild school hit by Hurricane Harvey. [150] Saudi cleric Muhammad Al-Munajjid attributed it to divine retribution against non-Muslim vacationers "who used to sprawl all over the beaches and in pubs overflowing with wine" during Christmas break. In the hours that followed, a massive tsunami fanned out across the Indian Ocean, killing close to 230,000 people, most in Indonesia. According to eyewitness accounts, the tsunami came from the north and south. The Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 killed at least 225,000 people across a dozen countries, with Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, and Thailand sustaining massive damage. At that point, I still had no idea what had happened. Answer 3: Tsunamis are generated by waves due to vertical motion of Earth's crust caused by earthquakes. There were no tsunami warning systems in the Indian Ocean to detect tsunamis or to warn the general population living around the ocean. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake came just three days after a magnitude 8.1 earthquake in the sub-antarctic Auckland Islands, an uninhabited region west of New Zealand, and Macquarie Island to Australia's north. [7] 3 Wendall A. Phillips. Maldives Report", "Death toll in Asian tsunami disaster tops 159,000", "Asian tsunami death toll passes 144,000", "Tsunami Evaluation Coalition: Initial Findings", "On the weak impact of the 26 December Indian Ocean tsunami on the Bangladesh coast", "The South Sandwich Islands earthquake of 27 June 1929: seismological study and inference on tsunami risk for the southern Atlantic", "YEMEN: Tsunami damage over US$1 million UNEP assessment", "Helping restore the quality of drinking water after the tsunami". How many people died in the Boxing Day tsunami? There's new evidence for what happened to people who survived Vesuvius Archaeologist studied tomb inscriptions and matched names to historical records. Ahead of the 15th anniversary of the tragedy, BBC Thai's Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai visited southern Thailand, which was devastated by the tsunami. Oxfam went on to report that as many as four times more women than men were killed in some regions because they were waiting on the beach for the fishers to return and looking after their children in the houses. Measurements from these satellites may prove invaluable for the understanding of the earthquake and tsunami. The south bay opens to the south-east and faces in the opposite direction from the tsunami. how many people survived the 2004 tsunami. Credit: Courtesy. However, this was proven untrue. The two main occupations affected by the tsunami were fishing and tourism. Up to four times as many women as men died in the Boxing Day Asian tsunami, according to a report published today by Oxfam International. One of the few coastal areas to evacuate ahead of the tsunami was on the Indonesian island of Simeulue, close to the epicentre. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. [citation needed]. More than 100 survivors of the tsunami along with bereaved relatives f The inundation distance is about 5km (3.1mi). Then I rolled back to sleep. Seismographic and acoustic data indicate that the first phase involved a rupture about 400km (250mi) long and 100km (60mi) wide, 30km (19mi) beneath the sea bedthe largest rupture ever known to have been caused by an earthquake. [6] A much higher number of deaths has been suggested for Myanmar based on reports from Thailand. She and her boyfriend were both. On 30 December 2004, four days after the tsunami, Terra Research notified the India government that its sensors indicated there was a possibility of 7.9 to 8.1 magnitude tectonic shift in the next 12 hours between Sumatra and New Zealand. Lituya Bay, Alaska, July 9, 1958 The size of a tsunami depends on where it originated, the geometry of the seafloor, and the orientation of the coastline. Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. 2), Can bowel problems cause urinary problems? Read about our approach to external linking. All of them were speeding through and honking and they passed by the area. On the other side of the ocean, in Somalia, waves ranged in height from 11 to 31 feet (3.4 to 9.4 meters). The second and third waves came in 10-minute intervals after the first. What characteristics allow plants to survive in the desert? In 2004, a tsunami triggered by an earthquake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra killed 226,000 people across the Indian Ocean, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia. The sea receded and exposed the seabed, prompting locals to collect stranded fish and explore the area. [64][65] While the overall impact on the national economies was minor, local economies were devastated. The deadliest-known earthquake in history occurred in 1556 in Shaanxi, China, with an estimated death toll of 830,000, though figures from this period may not be as reliable. Consequently, tsunami runup heights vary from 5m (16ft) to 9m (30ft) with inundation distances varying from 44m (144ft) to 704m (2,310ft). But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Thus, the state of Kerala was hit by the tsunami despite being on the western coast of India, and the western coast of Sri Lanka suffered substantial impacts. A series of huge waves triggered by an earthquake killed more than 230,000 people in 14 countries. About 600 pilgrims died. I told my team: 'What a perfect day to be in the sea. 1400. [124], The main effect was caused by poisoning of the freshwater supplies and of the soil by saltwater infiltration and a deposit of a salt layer over arable land. In Malacca, located on the island of Car Nicobar, there were three tsunami waves. The magnitude 8.7 2005 NiasSimeulue earthquake, which originated off the coast of the Sumatran island of Nias, is not considered an aftershock, despite its proximity to the epicentre, and was most likely triggered by stress changes associated with the 2004 event. [86], The worst affected island in the Andaman & Nicobar chain is Katchall Island, with 303 people confirmed dead and 4,354 missing out of a total population of 5,312. He pointed to the sea and told me there was no water at the beach. [133] Within 23km (1.21.9mi) of the shoreline, houses, except for strongly-built reinforced concrete ones with brick walls, which seemed to have been partially damaged by the earthquake before the tsunami attack, were swept away or destroyed by the tsunami. The ceremony ended just like any other day. Some locations reported that the waves had reached a height of 30 feet (9 metres) or more when they hit the shoreline. This was the highest number of casualties in a single African town and the largest tsunami death toll in a single town to the west of the Indian subcontinent. I was shocked and worried since my son had gone to work in Khao Lak [on the mainland coast north of Phuket]. 1,500-metre-high (5,000ft) thrust ridges created by previous geologic activity along the fault had collapsed, generating landslides several kilometres wide. Anticipate slowdowns caused by traffic gridlock and hundreds of other boaters heading out to sea. [60][61] Oral traditions developed from previous earthquakes helped the aboriginal tribes escape the tsunami. Along the Mexican coast, the waves were 30-50 m. Some geologists suggest that the Chicxulub tsunami reached Chicago, Montana, or Canada. This is the craziest video I've seen of the 2011 earthquake. The earthquake registered 9.1-9.3 M w and was the largest in five decades. The most devastating and deadliest tsunami was one in the Indian Ocean on Boxing Day, 2004.The tsunami was the most lethal ever to have occurred, with a death toll that reached a staggering figure of over 230,000, affecting people in 14 countries - with Indonesia hit worst, followed by Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand. Interviews with the locals revealed that the sea temporarily receded and exposed coral reefs. In addition, the tsunami inflicted damage to the popular resort town of Ao Nang in Krabi Province. The maximum tsunami wave height of 11m (36ft). Science Dec 24, 2014 2:11 PM EST. This is unusual since earthquakes of magnitude eight or more occur only about once per year on average. Updates? Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter'. Click to see full answer. [105] Sweden was the European country most severely affected both in absolute numbers, and by a wide margin when considered in relation to the country's population, with a death toll of 543. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Another video from Kamala Beach showed the tsunami flooding the ground floor of a restaurant sweeping away an elderly couple. T. Ghosh, P. Jana, T.S. How many were killed and left homeless? Footage showed evidence of back-flowing of the Aceh River, carrying debris and people from destroyed villages at the coast and transporting them up to 40km (25mi) inland. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. [82] The worst affected area in Tamil Nadu was Nagapattinam district, with 6,051 fatalities caused by a 5m (16ft) tsunami, followed by Cuddalore district, with many villages destroyed.

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