Effects of M 9 Sumatra Earthquake and Tsunami of 26 December 2004-A Review

Abstract

The great mega thrust M 9 Sumatra earth-quake on 26 December 2004 at 06:28:53 am IST created the most devastating tsunami in the known history. The deadly tsunami waves lashed low-lying towns adjoining the coastline of eleven countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, India and Sri Lanka, causing more than 150,000 deaths. Tsunami is a water wave caused due to tectonic activities under water and travels across oceans with very high speed and can inflict great damage to life and property at the shores. Many regions around the globe, especially the Pacific Ocean have witnessed many damaging tsunamis in the past. Countries around the Pacific Ocean have developed an early warning system that has been very effective for the last 50 years. Tsunamis have not been so frequent in the Indian Ocean, therefore lack of awareness has been a major cause for the great devastation caused by the tsunami of 26 December 2004. This paper gives a brief back- ground about tsunamis.