Effects of the 2004 Great Sumatra Tsunami: Southeast Indian Coast

Abstract

A large earthquake (Mw 9.3) struck northern Sumatra on December 26, 2004. The generated tsunami caused significant casualties and damages in many countries around the Indian Ocean. This is a report on the subsequent rapid reconnaissance survey of the Southeast Indian Coast. A wide variety of field observations-from hydrodynamics to human behaviors-made within 2 weeks of the event are discussed. We found that individual tsunami effects of this event were not extraordinary but similar to previous smaller events; what makes the December 26 event distinct is the extent of the affected area.