2004 Tsunami
December 26, 2024, marks the 20th anniversary of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, one of the deadliest natural disasters in history.
The 2004 earthquake occurred off the coast of Sumatra at a depth of 30 km, in the Sunda Trench, where the Indo-Australian plate subducts beneath the Burma microplate.
The quake affected regions including Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and other coastal nations.
The tsunami impacted areas far from the source, illustrating the vulnerability of distant coastal regions.
The earthquake, with a magnitude of 9.1, caused widespread destruction across 17 countries bordering the Indian Ocean and killed around 227,000 people, displacing 1.7 million.
Scientific Response and Advancements
Following the 2004 disaster, India established the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) in 2007, equipped with advanced monitoring technologies and real-time data transmission to issue alerts to bordering countries.
The 2004 event spurred the development of tsunami geology as a field, with studies uncovering evidence of past tsunamis.
Researchers have also focused on seismic activities and potential tsunami risks in the Indian Ocean region
The event raised awareness about natural hazards, leading to enhanced global preparedness, resilient infrastructure, and the introduction of new research and monitoring technologies.
Ongoing Risks and Future Research
Researchers warn that regions like the Makran Coast and the Myanmar coast remain vulnerable to tsunamis, as large-scale earthquakes could trigger similar disasters in the future.
Scientists continue to study tectonic plate movements, slow-slip events, and other phenomena to better understand earthquake generation and improve early warning systems for future threats.
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