Thursday, August 5, 2010

2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami



2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
http://world-worst-disasters.blogspot.com/
Tsunami strikes Ao Nang, Thailand.
DateDecember 26, 2004 (2004-12-26)
Magnitude9.1 Mw
Depth30 km (19 mi)
Epicenter location3°18′58″N 95°51′14″E / 3.316°N 95.854°E / 3.316; 95.854Coordinates: 3°18′58″N 95°51′14″E / 3.316°N 95.854°E / 3.316; 95.854
TypeUndersea (subduction)
Countries or regions affectedIndonesia (mainly in Aceh)
Sri Lanka
India (mostly in Tamil Nadu)
Thailand
Maldives
TsunamiYes
Casualties230,000+ (the fifth deadliest earthquake in recorded history)

The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC on December 26, 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake itself is known by the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake. The resulting tsunami is given various names, including the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Asian Tsunami, Indonesian Tsunami, and Boxing Day Tsunami.

The earthquake was caused by subduction and triggered a series of devastating tsunamis along the coasts of most landmasses bordering the Indian Ocean, killing over 230,000 people in fourteen countries, and inundating coastal communities with waves up to 30 meters (100 feet) high. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history. Indonesia was the hardest hit, followed by Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand.

With a magnitude of between 9.1 and 9.3, it is the second largest earthquake ever recorded on a seismograph. This earthquake had the longest duration of faulting ever observed, between 8.3 and 10 minutes. It caused the entire planet to vibrate as much as 1 cm (0.4 inches) and triggered other earthquakes as far away as Alaska.

The plight of the many affected people and countries prompted a widespread humanitarian response. In all, the worldwide community donated more than $7 billion (2004 U.S. dollars) in humanitarian aid. The hypocenter occurred between Simeulue and mainland Indonesia.

http://world-worst-disasters.blogspot.com/

No comments:

Post a Comment