Boxing Day Tsunami

On December 26, 2004, the world witnessed one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history – the Boxing Day Tsunami. This massive tsunami, named after the Boxing Day holiday, struck with an epicenter off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia and caused waves up to 30 meters (100 feet) high. The disaster resulted in the deaths of an estimated 227,898 people in 14 countries, with the greatest number of fatalities occurring in Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

The Cause of the Tsunami: The Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake

The Boxing Day Tsunami was caused by an undersea megathrust earthquake, known as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake, which occurred along the fault between the Burma Plate and the Indian Plate. The earthquake had a Mercalli intensity of up to IX in some areas and was the third-largest ever recorded, with the longest duration of faulting ever observed at between eight and ten minutes. It caused the planet to vibrate as much as 10 mm (0.4 inches) and even triggered earthquakes as far away as Alaska.

Impact on Coastal Communities

The direct effects of the tsunami were devastating for the coastal provinces of the affected countries, including Aceh (Indonesia), Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu (India), and Khao Lak (Thailand). The disaster disrupted living conditions and commerce in these areas, with many people losing their homes and livelihoods.

Continuing Effects of the Tsunami

The Sumatra-Andaman earthquake and the resultant tsunami had far-reaching effects that are still being studied and understood today. As technology advances, new insights are gained about the quake and its impact. In recent years, research has revised the original estimates of the size of the “rupture” caused by the earthquake.