On December 26, 2004, a massive earthquake occurred under the Indian Ocean just off the coast of Indonesia. The 9.0 magnitude quake created a series of tsunamis that caused great destruction and loss of life throughout the Indian Ocean basin, within several hours of the initial event.

History & Events

Latest Reports

Current Status Reports (ReliefWeb). Updates on progress, status of loans and other activities as the region recovers. Of special interest is:

South/Southeast Asia and East Africa: Earthquake and Tsunamis: Fact Sheet no. 14 (ReliefWeb Aug. 9, 2005) Status Reports for Countries prepared by the International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

News Special Pages

• After the Tsunami (CNN). News and events about and following the disaster. Includes resources, images, data, and links to additional sites. Several topics included are:
  • Death Statistics of Inhabitants (by country).
  • Death Toll of Foreign Visitors
• Asian Quake Disaster In Depth (BBC) News and events, plus other information, similar to the CNN site.
• Asia's Deadly Waves (New York Times). News, stories, images, videos, links to all materials.
• Asia Earthquake and Tsunami (FirstGov). From official phone contacts to history and data, this is a good starting point.
• EQ Net Tsunami Disaster page. From general coverage to specific technical data on the events.
• Dec 26, 2004 Magnitude 9.0 Earthquake & Tsunami in the Indian Ocean (National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) at NOAA). Event history, maps, animations, and data.
• National Geographic News full coverage page. On the tsunami, including news, photographs, maps, related topics, and many articles. Includes historical articles as well, such as: The Deadliest Tsunami in History? and Tsunamis: Facts About Killer Waves.
• Tsunami Event 26 December, 2004 (NOAA). Good data and information, plus updated links.
• Indian Ocean Casualties Map (Washington Post).

News Services (for Updates)

Southeastern Asian News Services (by country)

• Bangladesh
• India
• Indonesia
• Maldives
• Sri Lanka (2nd source ),
• Thailand

Images, Maps, GIS, and Video

• News & Amateur Photos (and some videos)
  • BBC (see links in right column)
  • CBC (satellite photos, other)
  • CNN (photos, maps, graphics, satellite, personal photos)
  • CTV. Special showing photos taken by a pilot over the Maldives during the tsunami from the air, then on the ground.
  • NBC. Images and videos.
  • New York Times (many clean-up/aftermath photos)
  • NPR. Map of the region.
  • Der Spiegel. Maps and images.
  • USA Today. Animated maps show the tsunami and damage/death statistics.
• Base mapping over SE Asia tsunami. Maps from GIS of countries.
• Tsunami gallery (DigitalGlobe). The producer of many of the satellite views.
• Before/After Satellite Images (NASA/JPL). Toggle between images showing various points in the disaster.
• Before/After Satellite Images (Washington Post). Images of Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Click between before and after images that are super-imposed for graphic view of destruction. (May require email registration to view but is worth it).
• GIS links. NOAA compiled list of GIS data sets available from various sources.
• Indian Ocean Tsunami / Tiger Waves (GlobalSecurity.org). Satellite images, photographs, and maps (some animated).
• Map of Wave Travel Time (NGDC-NOAA). Also has a world map showing how the tsunamis propagated around the world, and a wave elevation (height) map.
• Satellite images Show Tsunami Destruction of Lhoknga, Indonesia (SpaceRef.com / Goddard Space Flight Center).
• Tsunami Media Gallery (DigitalGlobe). Photographs and satellite imagery, with references to regions.
• Tsunami Interactive Map (Time). Map, graphics, and imagery of the tsunami and aftermath.
• Tsunami Inundation Maps (National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program
  Center for Tsunami Inundation Mapping Efforts). See maps showing the extent of flood waters from the tsunamis.
• Satellite Images by CRISP, Singapore (IKONOS images/CNES (SPOT images).
• http://www.asiantsunamivideos.com/. Independent site with a series of videos on the tsunamis. Has extreme amount of traffic but also has mirror sites to assist. Different browsers may act differently when downloading.

Relief Efforts and Country Contacts

• World Comes to Aid Tsunami Victims. The aftermath of the disaster will continue to haunt the Indian Ocean community, as well as effect the world for years to come. International reaction has been rapid in sending help to the region, with pledges of continued support in the future.
• Emergency hotline numbers to countries.
• Red Cross Victims Database (Red Cross). Online database to assist family members to track down lost loved ones.

Lists of Relief Organizations

• Relief Web has a page devoted to relief efforts by various sources worldwide.
• Tsunami Relief page (Google) links to main relief organizations, as well as information and contacts
• Aid groups accepting donations for victims. (CNN).
• Disaster Relief-Related Organizations (Disaster Relief).

Selected List of Major Organizations

• United Nations
  • UNICEF Tsunami Relief Fund
• United States Agency for International Development Relief Aid page (USAID).
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has a website
• Save the Children (US) (202) 261-4686) .
• World Vision.

How to Contact Countries for Information, Assistance Finding Relations

• If you are trying to reach one of these countries for information, call:
  • India: +91 11 2309 3054
  • Thailand: +66 2643 5262 and 2643 5000
  • Sri Lanka (residents): +94 11 536 1938
  • Sri Lanka (tourists): +94 11 243 7061
  • Maldives: +44 20 7224 2149
  • Seychelles: +248 321 676.
  • Also try the U.S. foreign embassy list for your country.
• Make Appeals to Countries (CNN). If you are looking for someone, you can send an appeal. This is a service offerred by CNN to assist you in searching for relations. Also links to responses from "found" individuals.

Tsunami Science

General & Brief

• Tsunamis: Can They Happen Here? Smithsonian magazine hosted an expert panel discussion on February 8, 2005, on tsunamis, earthquakes and disaster preparedness.
• Tsunami and earthquake facts (CNN). Brief descriptions of historic events for comparison, animations of tsunami formation, and other information.

• Tsunami's Journey (BBC). Animated map showing the earthquake, with animations of how tsunamis form.
• National Geographic News page. A wide variety of resources. Also includes historical articles, such as: The Deadliest Tsunami in History? and Tsunamis: Facts About Killer Waves.
• British Geological Survey page on the December 26 event. Includes technical data and links to news, relief, and related topics.
• Life of a Tsunami (USGS). Description of how tsunamis form and propagate.
• Natural Disasters. Resources on other natural disasters.

How does this event affect the entire world? See a page of maps and charts that show the extent of the tsunami's reach to all oceans of the world (West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center). It is amazing!

Science, Research, & In-Depth

• For Maps and GIS, Click here.
• Sumatra-Andaman Islands Earthquake and Indian Ocean Tsunamis, December 26, 2004 EQ Net resources page on the event.
• Northern Sumatra Earthquake, March 28, 2005 EQ Net.
• About Tsunamis Page (West Coast & Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (NOAA). Very good list of resources on all aspects of tsunamis.
• Tsunami Research Program (NOAA, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory). Research, mapping, models, and all sorts of information. Also has links to many relevant websites. One page of direct interest is:
  • Data Sets on the Indonesian Earthquake and Tsunami (NOAA). The most complete set of links to compiled data from sources and agencies around the world. Includes seismic and wave data, maps, tables, GIS, videos, and to photographic and satellite imagery. Also provides links to most of the prominent research centers worldwide.
• Tsunami! (Univ. of Washington, Dept. of Earth and Space Sciences). Scientific information and descriptions of tsunamis, including, what causes them, how they travel, what they can do. Good all-round coverage, including additional information, such as:
  • Physics of Tsunamis
  • Hazard Mitigation
• What does "Tsunami" mean?
• Tsunami Information Links (USGS Earthquake Hazards Program). One of the most complete sites for resources on tsunamis, including links to warning systems. Resources include:
  • Tsunamis & Earthquakes
  • Surviving a Tsunami (USGS). Findings and suggestions based on several events. A PDF version is also available.
  • Helping Coastal Communities at Risk from Tsunamis.
• National Tsunami Mitigation Program (PMEL/NOAA). Links to specific agencies and organizations, data and science sites.
• Tsunami Data - NOAA Natl. Geophysical Data Center
• Tsunamis - The Why Files
• Tsunami FAQ - International Tsunami Information Center

Tsunami Awareness & Preparedness

Tsunami Warning Centers

• West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center
• Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
• International Group for the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific
• International Tsunami Information Center (U.S. National Weather Service)

Disaster Preparation

• Tsunami: Talking About Disasters (FEMA).
• Tsunamis: Are You Ready? (FEMA).
• Tsunami Disaster Guide (Disaster Education). Things to know to be prepared.
• TsunamiReady Community Preparedness (NOAA/NWS). Developing a community plan to deal with tsunami disasters (and to minimize losses).
• Tsunami Safety Rules. Tips on what to do.
• Tsunami Links For Kids (NOAA). Descriptions, animations, and other items made just for kids to studay the events. See also: Tsunami Warning a children's book that explains these types of events.
• Helping Children Cope with Trauma by the American Counseling Association (ACA). For any disasters.
• Disaster Relief and Emergency Preparedness. Page by the Digital Divide Network. Also includes materials on electronic devices and services as they relate to disasters.

Earthquakes & Seismic Activity

• Earthquake Data (USGS). The technical seismic data on the December 26, 2004, 9.0 earthquake, along with related data, images, maps, charts, and continuing findings.
• Earthquake Hazards Program (USGS). Website on all earthquake and seismic-related topics.
• Can Animals Sense Earthquakes? A 2003 National Geographic article looks at this concept and what research has shown. Has a 2004 companion article Did Animals Sense Tsunami Was Coming?

David J. Bertuca, Map Librarian. Comments welcome.

Last modified: 25 October 2018 (mirror site to original page)
URL: http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~dbertuca/features/indian-ocean-disaster-m.html
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LJ