2004 Asian Tsunami

Question 1

Cause of tsunami

Answer 1

Mag 9 earthquake on destructive boundary caused 17m high waves

Question 2

Social Impacts

Answer 2

1500 villages destroyed in Sumatra

300,000 total deaths

Question 3

Economic Impacts

Answer 3

Sri Lanka 60% fishing infrastructure destroyed

Thailand tourism industry lost $25 million, 120,000 tourism jobs lost

Question 4

Regional Impacts

Answer 4

Some islands were cut off from mainland as jetties washed away e.g. Andaman

Vegetation and topsoil destroyed 800m inland

Mangrove forests destroyed, increasing future vulnerability

Question 5

Global Impacts

Answer 5

Agriculture contaminated by saltwater = many LICs unable to export when relied on it e.g. Sri Lanka

Tourists unable to visit e.g. Thailand, affected Thailand’s economy

Question 6

Vulnerability of countries involved

Answer 6

Most countries involved are developing and emerging e.g. Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka

This means there was poor healthcare, housing, education

Most of the affected countries had low lying coastlines and low budget for any defence e.g. sea walls

Question 7

Prediction

Answer 7

No regional warning system for the earthquake or tsunami

However, led to one being developed in 2006 for future diasters