Survivors and families remember the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which killed over 220,000 worldwide. Triggered by a 9.1-magnitude earthquake, the tsunami affected numerous nations, especially Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India. The event led to significant international relief efforts and advancements in tsunami warning systems, improving future preparedness.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the tragic 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, a catastrophe that resulted in over 220,000 fatalities across more than a dozen countries. The disaster was triggered by a 9.1-magnitude earthquake off the western coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra island, producing waves that devastated coastal regions in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, and others in the Indian Ocean basin.
On December 26, 2004, the earthquake unleashed the longest recorded fault-line rupture, spanning at least 1,200 kilometers and causing waves exceeding 30 meters in height. Initially reported as an 8.8-magnitude event, the United States Geological Survey later confirmed its magnitude as 9.1, with a depth of approximately 30 kilometers. The disaster’s epicenter was situated 150 miles from the coast of Sumatra, an area subjected to intense seismic activity due to its location within the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”
In response to the tsunami, substantial international aid and reconstruction efforts were mobilized, totaling around $14 billion. The disaster underscored the necessity for effective tsunami warning systems, resulting in enhanced preparedness in coastal communities around the Indian Ocean. Today, improved technology and significant investment into tsunami warning systems have shortened warning times to mere minutes; however, experts caution that while preparedness has improved, the catastrophic effects of a tsunami can never be entirely mitigated.
Original Source: www.france24.com
