Risky World
Can all hazard risk be managed (1)?
In this lesson students will learn about the causes of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, understand which countries were affected by the tsunami and understand the causes of the tsunami.
Key question:
- What happened on 26 December 2004?
Key Concepts:
Space
Physical and human processes
What happened on 26 December 2004?
An earthquake happened in the Indian Ocean, approximately 175 miles west of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The focus (point where the earthquake starts) was very shallow, only 30 km below the sea bed. It measured 9.0 on the richter scale making it one of the strongest tremors every recorded. The earthquake lasted for between 3 to 4 minutes, lifting the sea floor by several metres. The power released has been calculated to be equal to 23,000 atomic bombs.
The earthquake created a tsunami, a series of giant waves which quickly moved towards the eastern and western edges of the Indian Ocean. In parts of Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka the level of destruction was extreme, the waves destroyed coastal settlements and left tens of thousands missing or dead, the final death toll surpassing 150,000.
The response to the disaster around the world was swift. Countries, mainly MEDCs, quickly pledged funds to help finance the rescue and repair programmes - Britain pledged a donation of $285 million. As well as money many countries provided medical and military support, such as medicine, helicopters, and specialist staff. In affected areas, aid organisations set up shelters for the homeless and temporary field hospitals.
Click on an activity:
Starter
Main activity
Plenary
Interactive:
What happened on 26th December 2004?
Word version of what happened on the 26th December 2004?
Downloads:
List of countries affected by Tsunami
Causes of the tsunami fact sheet
News article to support sequencing activity