On December 26, 2004, the Indian Ocean tsunami resulted in 250,000 deaths and 2 million people displaced. It caused widespread damage to infrastructure and interrupted the livelihood of millions of people.
In this case study, Yining Liu explains that the tsunami occurred when an underwater earthquake, registered as a magnitude 9 on the Richter scale, resulted from subduction of the Indian Ocean tectonic plates. It pushed up the ocean floor by 40 m, killing 100,000 people within 20 minutes. The damage to infrastructure impacted hygiene and sanitation services and precipitated the spread of diseases like cholera and bilharzia. Additionally, food security worsened when the agriculture and fishing industry was impacted, and major economic losses transpired when the tourism industry was crippled.
Yining points out that information was limited during the event and was a major contributor to the vulnerability of populations, effectively inhibiting their ability to respond and evacuate on time. Due to the abruptness and magnitude of the tsunami, Yining notes that the local management faced significant challenges, drawing on international aid to support their efforts. Government response efforts focused on rebuilding the food system, providing shelters and food to the displaced populations, rebuilding infrastructure and facilities, and facilitating the coordination between different hospitals.
The lack of information was the main cause of the high death tolls and financial damages, and this event highlighted the need for early warning systems, forecasting, and predictions when designing preparedness plans.
Download the case study here.