2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami

The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred on Sunday, 26 December 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake is known by the scientific community as the Sumatra–Andaman earthquake. The resulting tsunami is given various names, including the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, South Asian tsunami, Indonesian tsunami, and the Boxing Day tsunami.

In May 2005, scientists reported that the earthquake itself lasted nearly ten minutes when most major earthquakes last no more than a few seconds and it caused the entire planet to vibrate at least a few centimeters. The earthquake originated in the Indian Ocean just north of Simeulue island, off the western coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia. The resulting tsunami devastated the shores of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, South India, Thailand and other countries with waves up to 30 m (100 feet). It caused serious damage and deaths as far as the east coast of Africa, with the furthest recorded death due to the tsunami occurring at Port Elizabeth in South Africa, 8,000km (5,000 miles) away from the epicentre.

Approximately 200,000 to 310,000 people are thought to have died as a result of the tsunami, and the count is not yet complete. In Indonesia in particular, 500 bodies a day were still being found in February 2005 and the count was expected to continue past June. The true final toll may never be known due to bodies having been swept out to sea, but current estimates use conservative methodologies. Relief agencies warn of the possibility of more deaths to come as a result of epidemics caused by poor sanitation, but the threat of starvation seems now to have been largely averted. The plight of the many affected people and countries prompted a widespread humanitarian response.

Devastation to Banda Aceh on the island of Sumatra as a result of the tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

Areas

The major subduction zone is associated with the Pacific and Indian Oceans and is responsible for the volcanic activity associated with the Pacific Ring of Fire. Since these earthquakes deform the ocean floor, they almost always generate a significant series of tsunami waves. They are known to produce intense shaking for long periods, such as several minutes.

References:

1.     2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. (n.d.). In Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved December 19, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake_and_tsunami

2.     The Indian Ocean Earthquake & Tsunami of 2004: Will History Repeat Itself? | Britannica Blog. (n.d.). In Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2008/12/the-indian-ocean-earthquake-of-2004-will-history-repeat-itself/

3.     Earthquake in the Indian Ocean Causes a Massive Tsunami. (n.d.). Windows to the Universe. Retrieved from http://www.windows2universe.org/headline_universe/earth_science/stories_2004/tsunami_news.html