9. Indian Ocean Tsunami



Richter scale: 9.1
subduction of the Indo-Australian plate under the Eurasian plate
epicentre: 200km
Affected area
(scale)

Economic

whole ocean event
- impacting most
countries around its
fringe
affected a larger areas
and killed 10 time more
people
- BUT financial losses
were still lower

largely confined to
eastern Japan

ports, factories and
infrastructure along
the coast of sendai
were insured against
damage
- costliest disaster
in history for the
international
insurance market



entire village gone, all
buildings collapsed
- social loss higher


no nuclear power plant
(LICs)

hazard proof
buildings
- even with less
damaged
building, econ
loss was higher
nuclear disaster
similar in terms of physical process
different in short and long term effects + social/ econ.
Vulnerability (india)

lack of defence and warning system

poor building structure
- the majority of deaths happen in people living in poorly-built homes
- key source of employment: fishing and tourism

little or no insurance cover

poor governance
- political instability: civil war
Effects



cholera outbreak
food shortage many fish died, farmland and fishing equipment destroyed
 prompted the set up of Indian ocean tsunami warning centre