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Animation of Indonesia tsunami (Credit: NOAA)

The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an underseamegathrust earthquake of moment magnitude 9.0 that struck the Indian Ocean off the western coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia on December 26, 2004 at 00:58:50 UTC (07:58:50 local time in Jakarta and Bangkok). The quake and the resulting tsunamis are being called the worst natural disaster in modern history, even though it was not the most deadly, because of the limited nature of the impact. It was the largest earthquake on Earth since the 9.2-magnitude Good Friday Earthquake which struck Alaska, USA, on March 27, 1964, and the third largest since 1900. Tens of thousands were killed by the resulting tsunamis, which were as high as 10 m (33 ft) in some locations and struck within three hours of the quake.

The multiple tsunamis struck and ravaged coastal regions all over the Indian Ocean, devastating regions including the Indonesian province of Aceh, the coast of Sri Lanka, coastal areas of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the resort island of Phuket, Thailand, and even as far away as Somalia, 4,100 km (2,500 mi) west of the epicenter.

Quake characteristics

The quake was initially reported as magnitude 6.8 on the Richter scale. On the moment magnitude scale, which is more accurate for quakes of this size, the earthquake's magnitude was first reported as 8.2 by the United States Geological Survey, but after further analysis they increased this first to 8.5 and 8.8 and finally 9.1.

For comparison, the largest recorded earthquake was the Great Chilean Earthquake of 1960, having a magnitude of 9.5. The only other larger quakes worldwide since 1900 were the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake (9.2) and a March 9 1957 quake [1] in the Andreanof Islands (9.1), both in Alaska, USA. The only other recorded 9.0 magnitude earthquake, in 1952 off the southeast coast of Kamchatka, U.S.S.R., spawned tsunamis that caused extensive damage in Kamchatka, the Kuril Islands and the Hawaiian Islands. (See Top 10 earthquakes.)

The hypocenter was at 3.298°N, 95.779°E, some 160 km (100 mi) west of Sumatra, at a depth of 10 km (6.2 mi) underwater, within the "Ring of Fire" zone of frequent earthquakes. The quake itself (apart from the tsunamis) was felt as far away as Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and the Maldives.

The earthquake was unusually large in geographical extent. An estimated 1,200 km (740 mi) of faultline slipped 15 m (50 ft) along the subduction zone where the India Plate dives under the Burma Plate. This formed a shock wave in the Indian Ocean, creating tsunamis that traveled at up to 800 km/h (500 mi/h).

The India Plate is part of the great Indo-Australian Plate, which underlies the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal, and is drifting northeast at an average of 5 cm/yr (2 in/yr), relative to the Burma Plate. The Burma Plate carries the Nicobar and Andaman Islands and northern Sumatra, and is pushed by the Sunda Plate to its east. Both the Burma and Sunda Plates are considered portions of the great Eurasian Plate. The tectonic activity that results as these plates scrape against each other led to the creation of the Sunda Arc.

Numerous aftershocks of magnitude between 5.7 and 6.3 were reported off the Andaman Islands in the following hours and days. Aftershocks off the Nicobar Islands were also reported, including ones of magnitude 7.5 [2], and 6.5 [3]. Other aftershocks between magnitude 5.0 and 6.3 occurred near the location of the original quake. See also: USGS current earthquake information.

The earthquake came just three days after a magnitude 8.1 earthquake in a completely uninhabited region west of New Zealand's sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands, and north of Australia's Macquarie Island [4]. This would normally be unusual, since earthquakes of magnitude 8 or more typically occur an average of once per year. Seismologists have speculated about a possible connection between these two earthquakes, saying that the former one might have been a catalyst to the Indian Ocean earthquake, as the two quakes happened on opposite sides of the Indo-Australian tectonic plate [5]. Coincidentally, the earthquake struck almost exactly one year (within an hour) after a magnitude 6.6 earthquake killed an estimated 30,000 people in the city of Bam in Iran [6].

The total energy released by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake exceeds the total amount of energy consumed in the United States in one month, or the energy released by the wind of a hurricane like Hurricane Isabel over a period of 70 days ([7]). Using the mass-energy equivalence formula $E=mc^{2}$ , this amount of energy is equivalent to a mass of about 100 kg (220 lb) (much more than is actually converted to energy in a nuclear explosion), or enough to boil 5000 litres (1,300 US gallons) of water for every person on Earth.

Based on one seismic model, some of the smaller islands southwest of Sumatra have moved southwest up to 20 m (66 ft). The northern tip of Sumatra, which is on the Burma Plate (the southern regions are on the Sunda Plate), may also have moved southwest up to 36 m (120 ft). Other models suggest that most of the movement would have been vertical rather than lateral. Further measurement is needed to determine the extent of any actual movement. The massive release of energy and shift in mass may have also caused the earth to minutely "wobble" on its axis. [8]

Damage and casualties

The earthquake triggered massive tsunamis which struck the coasts of the Indian Ocean. The death toll from the tsunamis and the resultant floods was reported to be more than 59,000, with tens of thousands of people reported missing, and over a million left homeless. The head of the European Union's humanitarian relief operation, Guido Bertolaso, has stated, "I fear that in the end it will be more than 100,000 deaths." [9]

The death toll may be particularly high due to the fact that this is the first time in over 100 years that a tsunami of the Indian Ocean has struck land, leaving the affected countries unprepared and the people unable to recognise the telltale signs of an impending tsunami. The last tsunami in the area was caused by the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883. Pacific Ocean coasts were not affected. In addition to the large number of local residents, some tourists during the busy Christmas holiday travel season were among the casualties. States of emergency were declared in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Maldives. The United Nations has declared that the current relief operation would be the costliest one ever.

For purposes of establishing timelines of local events, the time zones of affected areas are: UTC+3: (Kenya, Somalia); UTC+4: (Mauritius, Réunion, Seychelles); UTC+5: (Maldives); UTC+5:30: (India); UTC+6: (Bangladesh, Sri Lanka); UTC+6:30: (Cocos Islands, Myanmar); UTC+7: (Indonesia (western), Thailand); UTC+8: (Malaysia, Singapore). Since the quake occurred at 00:58:50 UTC, add the above offsets to find the local time of the quake.

	Country	Confirmed Dead	Estimated Dead	Injured	Missing	Displaced
1	Indonesia	[10] 27,174	[11]	Unknown	~30,000	Unknown
2	Sri Lanka ^*	[12] 17,640	[13] 25,000	4,000	~20,000	[14] 1.5 million
3	India	[15] 9,396	[16] 11,500	Unknown	>30,000	Hundreds of thousands
4	Thailand	[17] 1,516	[18] 2,000	8,432	1,200	29,000
5	Myanmar (Burma)	90	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
6	Maldives	68	Unknown	Unknown	76	Unknown
7	Malaysia	65	Unknown	>200	29	Unknown
8	Somalia	48	Hundreds	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
9	Tanzania	10	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
10	South Africa	4	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
11	Seychelles	3	Unknown	Unknown	7	Unknown
12	Bangladesh	2	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
13	Kenya	2	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
14	Madagascar	None	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Up to 1200
	Total	56,018	[19] 56,014-62,000	>10,546	>80,000	1.5-2 million

^* The numbers for Sri Lanka include reports from both government- as well as Tamil-held regions.

India

The entire eastern coast of India was affected, killing more than 11,500 and rendering thousands injured and/or homeless. The death toll in Tamil Nadu, which was most affected, was above 3,200. Along the eastern coast, 377 were killed in Pondichery and 89 in Andhra Pradesh. Kerala, located on the western coast of India, was also affected with 158 deaths and thousands rendered homeless. Hundreds were feared missing (1,200 in Andhra Pradesh alone). Most of the people killed were fisherfolk who lived along the coast. Many fishermen both at home and at sea were missing.

Initial reports hinted at very few casualties in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a Union Territory of India just north of the earthquake hypocenter, but after many subsequent aftershocks near Nicobar, fears rose. Latest reports estimate 7,000 dead in the region and a similar number missing. However, communications have been lost with the Nan Kauri group of islands, some of which have been completely submerged, with the total number of the population out of contact exceeding 18,0000. The Indian Air Force base in Car Nicobar, near the hypocenter, is reported to have been severely damaged. [20]

The worst damage was in Tamil Nadu, where the official toll was 3,000, mostly women and children. Over 1,700 were killed in the Nagapattinam district alone, over 400 in the Cuddalore district, over 525 in the Kanyakumari district and over 200 in Chennai (formerly Madras) city. It was reported that survey and rescue helicopters could not even land in Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts due to floods and rains.

Those killed in Kanyakumari include pilgrims taking a holy dip in the sea. Of about 700 people trapped at the Vivekananda Memorial on an island off Kanyakumari, 650 were rescued while the search is on for others. In Chennai along the Marina Beach, people taking part in various sports activities (including children), and those who were having a morning walk along the beach, were washed away. It being a Sunday there were more people than usual on the beach. Some unconfirmed reports claim that at least 5,000 fishermen and their families may be missing just from the Marina Beach area.

A large number of pilgrims celebrating Christmas at the Velankanni church were affected. Eyewitness reports suggest that at least 1,000 people were on the beach on that morning.

Water also rushed into the nuclear reactor complex at Kalpakkam, which was then shut off. No damage or radiation leak was reported. [21]

The Indian Army, Navy and Coast Guard were pressed into service for undertaking rescue operations and to air-drop food to the tsunami victims. The chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh announced ex gratia relief for those affected by the tsunamis.

Indonesia

The count in Indonesia is 27,174. Emergency workers report 10,000 dead are reported in the single town of Meulaboh in the province of Bob on the northern tip of Sumatra. Nine thousand are reported dead in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh and nearby towns, where dozens of buildings were destroyed in the initial earthquake. The city was unusual in the regional disaster in that it took damage from the earthquake itself as well as the tsunami. Initial reports from the hard-hit west coast of Sumatra are of high casualties. Vice-President Jalla has stated that the number of dead there could reach 20,000. Hundreds of thousands of people have been rendered homeless.

Government officials are very concerned over the lack of reports from the many small islands dotting the western coast of Sumatra. Among these are the islands Simeuleu and Nias. On Nias island alone official acounts gave the number 46 while various unconfirmed sources (mostly from phone calls by relatives living in Jakarta) report death tolls of over 600, while others say the number more likely to go well over 1000. Confirmation and communications to the islands are further hampered by damage to telecommunication infrastructures, where phone lines are broken and radio networks have been said to be down due to bad weather. (source: KCM)

Most damage was the result of the tsunamis that struck the coastal regions of Aceh and North Sumatra provinces. Ten metre tall tsunamis passed the tip of the island to race south down the Straits of Malacca and strike along the northeast coast near the town of Birun. The west coast of Sumatra was about 100 km (60 mi) from the epicenter and is believed to have taken heavy damage. At least five villages were completely destroyed.

An accurate picture of the damage is made difficult due to the insurgency of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (also known as GAM or Gerakan Aceh Merdeka), which means that there were relatively few journalists, government offices, or aid workers in northern Sumatra. On Monday the government stated that on Wednesday it would lift the 18-month-old ban prohibiting foreign journalists and aid workers from traveling to Aceh. Also on Monday, a spokesperson for the Free Aceh Movement declared a ceasefire so humanitarian aid could reach survivors, and so as not to complicate the already devastating situation. The GAM also stated that 50,000 people were displaced in Aceh.

Fifteen thousand troops, who were in the region to fight the insurgency, have been dispatched to render assistance and to search for survivors. Three days of national mourning have been declared.

Malaysia

People were swept away from beaches as the tsunami hit Malaysia, resulting in the deaths of 58 people as of 1 am local time: 43 (2 unindentified victims) in Penang, 11 in Kedah, 3 in Perak and one in Selangor. 29 people are missing. The deaths at Penang were reported to include many picnickers and children who were playing on the beach. No deaths are reported among foreign tourists. At noon on 28th Dec the death toll is reported to have risen to 63. Houses in villages along coastal areas were badly damaged in Penang and numerous fishing boats were destroyed on Langkawi island. The waves sent parked motorcycles crashing and cars washed with mud at stretches along Gurney Drive.

The Malaysian government announced that MYR 1,000 (USD 263.16) would be paid to the families of victims while MYR 200 (USD 52.63) would be paid to those who had sustained injuries from the tsunami. Residents who moved out of their homes immediately would also be paid MYR 200 as compensation.

Maldives

Sixty-eight were killed and 76 reported missing in the Maldives, with both figures expected to rise as communication links are restored. Two-thirds of the capital city Malé were flooded during the early hours of the day. Outlying low-level atolls were badly affected and some low lying islands were completely submerged - including some of the major resorts - during the high tide.

The government has declared a state of national disaster [22] and a special task force has been set up to provide aid and supplies. Rescue efforts have been hampered by loss of communication capability, as well as the lack of a prior rescue or relief plan for a disaster of this nature.

Somalia

Villages and coastal communities in Somalia, about 4,500 km (2,790 mi) from the epicentre of the earthquake, were swept away and destroyed by the huge waves. Rising waters engulfed the town mosque of Brava and the villages of Beyla, Garacad, Muduy and Nugaal, all in Puntland, were reported destroyed.

Thirty-eight people are dead according to an official of the autonomous Puntland government. The United Nations gives the provisional figure of 62, based on reports from its field offices in Puntland. According to Ali Abdi Awari, Minister of Rural Development, the final toll is believed to be much higher, as the number of fishermen caught on the sea has not been established by the local authorities. The national government is based in Mogadishu and has little authority over Puntland.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan authorities report 13,000 confirmed killed and estimate 20,000 dead, mostly children and the elderly. The south and east coasts were worst hit. The army states that at least 10,000 bodies have been recovered in government-held areas.

The rebel Tamil Tigers who control much of the north and east have stated that the number of dead in rebel-held areas could rise to 6,000. War damaged infrastucture means it is likely to mean that it will take longer before accurate figures are available for these areas.

1200 dead were counted at Batticaloa in the east and at Trincomalee in the northeast, where the tsunami reached more than 2 km (1.25 mi) inland, 800 were reported dead. The naval base at Trincomalee is reported to be submerged. About 1000 more dead were counted in Mullaitivu and Vadamaradchi East. [23]

More than one million people have been displaced from their homes. Apart from homes, many hotels were also reported to have been damaged. Hotels along the south coast were full of both foreign tourists and Sri Lankans making use of the long Christmas weekend. Twenty thousand soldiers were deployed in government-controlled areas to assist in relief operations and maintain law and order after sporadic looting. Curfews had been imposed in some areas to curb looting. Local media reported that landmines left after the two-decade civil war had been washed up and spread by the surge of water.

The main highway to the south runs along the coast and was closed in the aftermath of the tsunami delaying relief supplies. A huge effort to deliver supplies has been made by large numbers of private individuals filling their own vans and pickup trucks with food, clothing and bottled water and driving to affected areas.

Thailand

Thai media reports that over 2,000 are feared killed, with 1,538 confirmed deaths and 8,950 injuries. The popular tourist resort of Phuket was badly hit. The smaller but increasingly popular resort area of Khao Lak some 80 km north of Phuket was hit far worse and there are said to be around 700 corpses on the beach in Khao Lak, while the total amount of dead in Khao Lak may exceed 2000. The severity of the situation in Khao Lak is probably explained by the fact, that unlike the high-rising city of Phuket, the village of Khao Lak only had low built bungalows instead of high-rise concrete hotels. Khao Lak also has an extensive area of flatland only a few meters above the sea level, on which most bungalows were situated.

Thailand deputy interior minister Sutham Sangprathum reports over 700 tourists among Thailand's casualties. The bodies of 44 foreign tourists are reported to have been recovered at Phuket. Hundreds of holiday bungalows on the Phi Phi Islands were washed out to sea. Lorry drivers were quick to offer assistance, driving victims to higher ground and away from the surging waters. Local reports say many scuba divers were found dead, with their bodies torn apart by the tsunami. Among the dead was Bhumi Jensen, a grandson of King Rama IX, whose body was found at Phang Nga on Monday afternoon.

Other directly affected countries and territories

Australia	Tremors felt along the north-western coast, some minor flooding. Seas off Western Australia are reportedly surging between Geraldton, 425Km north of Perth, where several boats were ripped from their moorings, and Busselton, 325Km south of Perth, where a father and son in a boat were washed out to sea, but were later rescued. No direct casualties have been reported within Australia.
Bangladesh	Two children killed after a tourist boat capsized in surging waves.
Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Australia)	After earlier scares, no casualties were reported.
Kenya	Waves struck Kenya causing some minor damage. Two people reported drowned at Watamu, near Mombasa, another one injured.
Madagascar	Flooding in low-lying coastal districts. No reported casualties. A 1.6 metre wave swept through a village near Manakara canto — up to 1,200 reported homeless.
Mauritius	Struck by wave, no reports on casualties, a village in the north of the island completely submerged.
Myanmar (Burma)	Thirty-four people confirmed killed, mostly in the Irrawaddy Delta, several villages and a bridge destroyed. The ruling military government rarely release details about any disaster, so exact numbers of casualties and homeless are difficult to obtain. International humanitarian organisations in Rangoon report 56 deaths, but expect the final toll to be significantly higher.
Oman	Waves hit coastline but no casualties.
Réunion (France)	Over 200 boats sunk, the damage to the port infrastructures estimated at over € 500,000, according to the Chamber of Commerce.
Seychelles	Three killed, seven people missing. Major bridge in Victoria destroyed
Singapore	Tremors felt by residents in high-rise apartment blocks in the south of the city-state.
Tanzania	Ten killed, unknown number of people missing.

The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake of moment magnitude 9.0 that struck the Indian Ocean off the western coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia on December 26, 2004 at 00:58:50 UTC (07:58:50 local time in Jakarta and Bangkok). The quake and the resulting tsunamis are being called the worst natural disaster in modern history, even though it was not the most deadly, because of the widespread nature of the impact. It was the largest earthquake on Earth since the 9.2-magnitude Good Friday Earthquake which struck Alaska, USA, on March 27, 1964, and the fourth largest since 1900. Tens of thousands were killed by the resulting tsunamis, which were as high as 10 m (33 ft) in some locations and struck within three hours of the quake.

The multiple tsunamis struck and ravaged coastal regions all over the Indian Ocean, devastating regions including the Indonesian province of Aceh, the coast of Sri Lanka, coastal areas of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the resort island of Phuket, Thailand, and even as far away as Somalia, 4,100 km (2,500 mi) west of the epicenter.

Quake characteristics

The quake was initially reported as magnitude 6.8 on the Richter scale. On the moment magnitude scale, which is more accurate for quakes of this size, the earthquake's magnitude was first reported as 8.1 by the United States Geological Survey, but after further analysis they increased this first to 8.5 and 8.9 and finally 9.0.

For comparison, the largest recorded earthquake was the Great Chilean Earthquake of 1960, having a magnitude of 9.5. The only other larger quakes worldwide since 1900 were the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake (9.2) and a March 9 1957 quake [24] in the Andreanof Islands (9.1), both in Alaska, USA. The only other recorded 9.0 magnitude earthquake, in 1952 off the southeast coast of Kamchatka, U.S.S.R., spawned tsunamis that caused extensive damage in Kamchatka, the Kuril Islands and the Hawaiian Islands. (See Top 10 earthquakes.)

The hypocenter was at 3.298°N, 95.779°E, some 160 km (100 mi) west of Sumatra, at a depth of 10 km (6.2 mi) underwater, within the "Ring of Fire" zone of frequent earthquakes. The quake itself (apart from the tsunamis) was felt as far away as Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and the Maldives.

The earthquake was unusually large in geographical extent. An estimated 1,200 km (740 mi) of faultline slipped 15 m (50 ft) along the subduction zone where the India Plate dives under the Burma Plate. This formed a shock wave in the Indian Ocean, creating tsunamis that traveled at up to 800 km/h (500 mi/h).

The India Plate is part of the great Indo-Australian Plate, which underlies the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal, and is drifting northeast at an average of 5 cm/yr (2 in/yr), relative to the Burma Plate. The Burma Plate carries the Nicobar and Andaman Islands and northern Sumatra, and is pushed by the Sunda Plate to its east. Both the Burma and Sunda Plates are considered portions of the great Eurasian Plate. The tectonic activity that results as these plates scrape against each other led to the creation of the Sunda Arc.

Numerous aftershocks of magnitude between 5.7 and 6.3 were reported off the Andaman Islands in the following hours and days. Aftershocks off the Nicobar Islands were also reported, including ones of magnitude 7.5 [25], and 6.5 [26]. Other aftershocks between magnitude 5.0 and 6.3 occurred near the location of the original quake. See also: USGS current earthquake information.

The earthquake came just three days after a magnitude 8.1 earthquake in a completely uninhabited region west of New Zealand's sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands, and north of Australia's Macquarie Island [27]. This would normally be unusual, since earthquakes of magnitude 8 or more typically occur an average of once per year. Seismologists have speculated about a possible connection between these two earthquakes, saying that the former one might have been a catalyst to the Indian Ocean earthquake, as the two quakes happened on opposite sides of the Indo-Australian tectonic plate [28]. Coincidentally, the earthquake struck almost exactly one year (within an hour) after a magnitude 6.6 earthquake killed an estimated 30,000 people in the city of Bam in Iran [29].

The total energy released by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake exceeds the total amount of energy consumed in the United States in one month, or the energy released by the wind of a hurricane like Hurricane Isabel over a period of 70 days ([30]). Using the mass-energy equivalence formula E=mc², this amount of energy is equivalent to a mass of about 100 kg (220 lb) (much more than is actually converted to energy in a nuclear explosion), or enough to boil 5000 litres (1,300 US gallons) of water for every person on Earth.

Based on one seismic model, some of the smaller islands southwest of Sumatra have moved southwest up to 20 m (66 ft). The northern tip of Sumatra, which is on the Burma Plate (the southern regions are on the Sunda Plate), may also have moved southwest up to 36 m (120 ft). Other models suggest that most of the movement would have been vertical rather than lateral. Further measurement is needed to determine the extent of any actual movement. The massive release of energy and shift in mass may have also caused the earth to minutely "wobble" on its axis. [31]

Damage and casualties

The earthquake triggered massive tsunamis which struck the coasts of the Indian Ocean. The death toll from the tsunamis and the resultant floods was reported to be more than 59,000, with tens of thousands of people reported missing, and over a million left homeless. The head of the European Union's humanitarian relief operation, Guido Bertolaso, has stated, "I fear that in the end it will be more than 100,000 deaths." [32]

The death toll may be particularly high due to the fact that this is the first time in over 100 years that a tsunami of the Indian Ocean has struck land, leaving the affected countries unprepared and the people unable to recognise the telltale signs of an impending tsunami. The last tsunami in the area was caused by the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883. Pacific Ocean coasts were not affected. In addition to the large number of local residents, some tourists during the busy Christmas holiday travel season were among the casualties. States of emergency were declared in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Maldives. The United Nations has declared that the current relief operation would be the costliest one ever.

For purposes of establishing timelines of local events, the time zones of affected areas are: UTC+3: (Kenya, Somalia); UTC+4: (Mauritius, Réunion, Seychelles); UTC+5: (Maldives); UTC+5:30: (India); UTC+6: (Bangladesh, Sri Lanka); UTC+6:30: (Cocos Islands, Myanmar); UTC+7: (Indonesia (western), Thailand); UTC+8: (Malaysia, Singapore). Since the quake occurred at 00:58:50 UTC, add the above offsets to find the local time of the quake.

	Country	Confirmed Dead	Estimated Dead	Injured	Missing	Displaced
1	Indonesia	[33] 27,174	[34] At least 1 goat	Unknown	~30,000	Unknown
2	Sri Lanka ^*	[35] 17,640	[36] 25,000	4,000	~20,000	[37] 1.5 million
3	India	[38] 9,396	[39] 11,500	Unknown	>30,000	Hundreds of thousands
4	Thailand	[40] 1,516	[41] 2,000	8,432	1,200	29,000
5	Myanmar (Burma)	90	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
6	Maldives	68	Unknown	Unknown	76	Unknown
7	Malaysia	65	Unknown	>200	29	Unknown
8	Somalia	48	Hundreds	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
9	Tanzania	10	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
10	South Africa	4	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
11	Seychelles	3	Unknown	Unknown	7	Unknown
12	Bangladesh	2	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
13	Kenya	2	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
14	Madagascar	None	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Up to 1200
	Total	56,018	[42] 56,014-62,000	>10,546	>80,000	1.5-2 million

^* The numbers for Sri Lanka include reports from both government- as well as Tamil-held regions.

India

The entire eastern coast of India was affected, killing more than 11,500 and rendering thousands injured and/or homeless. The death toll in Tamil Nadu, which was most affected, was above 3,200. Along the eastern coast, 377 were killed in Pondichery and 89 in Andhra Pradesh. Kerala, located on the western coast of India, was also affected with 158 deaths and thousands rendered homeless. Hundreds were feared missing (1,200 in Andhra Pradesh alone). Most of the people killed were fisherfolk who lived along the coast. Many fishermen both at home and at sea were missing.

Initial reports hinted at very few casualties in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a Union Territory of India just north of the earthquake hypocenter, but after many subsequent aftershocks near Nicobar, fears rose. Latest reports estimate 7,000,000 dead in the region and a similar number missing. However, communications have been lost with the Nan Kauri group of islands, some of which have been completely submerged, with the total number of the population out of contact exceeding 18,0000. The Indian Air Force base in Car Nicobar, near the hypocenter, is reported to have been severely damaged. [43]

The worst damage was in Tamil Nadu, where the official toll was 3,00000, mostly women and children. Over 1,7000 were killed in the Nagapattinam district alone, over 400 in the Cuddalore district, over 525 in the Kanyakumari district and over 200 in Chennai (formerly Madras) city. It was reported that survey and rescue helicopters could not even land in Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts due to floods and rains.

Those killed in Kanyakumari include pilgrims taking a holy dip in the sea. Of about 700 people trapped at the Vivekananda Memorial on an island off Kanyakumari, 650 were rescued while the search is on for others. In Chennai along the Marina Beach, people taking part in various sports activities (including children), and those who were having a morning walk along the beach, were washed away. It being a Sunday there were more people than usual on the beach. Some unconfirmed reports claim that at least 5,000 fishermen and their families may be missing just from the Marina Beach area.

A large number of pilgrims celebrating Christmas at the Velankanni church were affected. Eyewitness reports suggest that at least 1,000 people were on the beach on that morning.

Water also rushed into the nuclear reactor complex at Kalpakkam, which was then shut off. No damage or radiation leak was reported. [44]

The Indian Army, Navy and Coast Guard were pressed into service for undertaking rescue operations and to air-drop food to the tsunami victims. The chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh announced ex gratia relief for those affected by the tsunamis.

Indonesia

The count in Indonesia is 27,174. Emergency workers report 10,000 dead are reported in the single town of Meulaboh in the province of Aceh on the northern tip of Sumatra. Nine thousand are reported dead in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh and nearby towns, where dozens of buildings were destroyed in the initial earthquake. The city was unusual in the regional disaster in that it took damage from the earthquake itself as well as the tsunami. Initial reports from the hard-hit west coast of Sumatra are of high casualties. Vice-President Jalla has stated that the number of dead there could reach 20,000. Hundreds of thousands of people have been rendered homeless.

Government officials are very concerned over the lack of reports from the many small islands dotting the western coast of Sumatra. Among these are the islands Simeuleu and Nias. On Nias island alone official acounts gave the number 46 while various unconfirmed sources (mostly from phone calls by relatives living in Jakarta) report death tolls of over 600, while others say the number more likely to go well over 1000. Confirmation and communications to the islands are further hampered by damage to telecommunication infrastructures, where phone lines are broken and radio networks have been said to be down due to bad weather. (source: KCM)

Most damage was the result of the tsunamis that struck the coastal regions of Aceh and North Sumatra provinces. Ten metre tall tsunamis passed the tip of the island to race south down the Straits of Malacca and strike along the northeast coast near the town of Birun. The west coast of Sumatra was about 100 km (60 mi) from the epicenter and is believed to have taken heavy damage. At least five villages were completely destroyed.

An accurate picture of the damage is made difficult due to the insurgency of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (also known as GAM or Gerakan Aceh Merdeka), which means that there were relatively few journalists, government offices, or aid workers in northern Sumatra. On Monday the government stated that on Wednesday it would lift the 18-month-old ban prohibiting foreign journalists and aid workers from traveling to Aceh. Also on Monday, a spokesperson for the Free Aceh Movement declared a ceasefire so humanitarian aid could reach survivors, and so as not to complicate the already devastating situation. The GAM also stated that 50,000 people were displaced in Aceh.

Fifteen thousand troops, who were in the region to fight the insurgency, have been dispatched to render assistance and to search for survivors. Three days of national mourning have been declared.

Malaysia

People were swept away from beaches as the tsunami hit Malaysia, resulting in the deaths of 58 people as of 1 am local time: 43 (2 unindentified victims) in Penang, 11 in Kedah, 3 in Perak and one in Selangor. 29 people are missing. The deaths at Penang were reported to include many picnickers and children who were playing on the beach. No deaths are reported among foreign tourists. At noon on 28th Dec the death toll is reported to have risen to 63. Houses in villages along coastal areas were badly damaged in Penang and numerous fishing boats were destroyed on Langkawi island. The waves sent parked motorcycles crashing and cars washed with mud at stretches along Gurney Drive.

The Malaysian government announced that MYR 1,000 (USD 263.16) would be paid to the families of victims while MYR 200 (USD 52.63) would be paid to those who had sustained injuries from the tsunami. Residents who moved out of their homes immediately would also be paid MYR 200 as compensation.

Maldives

Sixty-eight were killed and 76 reported missing in the Maldives, with both figures expected to rise as communication links are restored. Two-thirds of the capital city Malé were flooded during the early hours of the day. Outlying low-level atolls were badly affected and some low lying islands were completely submerged - including some of the major resorts - during the high tide.

The government has declared a state of national disaster [45] and a special task force has been set up to provide aid and supplies. Rescue efforts have been hampered by loss of communication capability, as well as the lack of a prior rescue or relief plan for a disaster of this nature.

Somalia

Villages and coastal communities in Somalia, about 4,500 km (2,790 mi) from the epicentre of the earthquake, were swept away and destroyed by the huge waves. Rising waters engulfed the town mosque of Brava and the villages of Beyla, Garacad, Muduy and Nugaal, all in Puntland, were reported destroyed.

Thirty-eight people are dead according to an official of the autonomous Puntland government. The United Nations gives the provisional figure of 62, based on reports from its field offices in Puntland. According to Ali Abdi Awari, Minister of Rural Development, the final toll is believed to be much higher, as the number of fishermen caught on the sea has not been established by the local authorities. The national government is based in Mogadishu and has little authority over Puntland.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan authorities report 13,000 confirmed killed and estimate 20,000 dead, mostly children and the elderly. The south and east coasts were worst hit. The army states that at least 10,000 bodies have been recovered in government-held areas.

The rebel Tamil Tigers who control much of the north and east have stated that the number of dead in rebel-held areas could rise to 6,000. War damaged infrastucture means it is likely to mean that it will take longer before accurate figures are available for these areas.

1200 dead were counted at Batticaloa in the east and at Trincomalee in the northeast, where the tsunami reached more than 2 km (1.25 mi) inland, 800 were reported dead. The naval base at Trincomalee is reported to be submerged. About 1000 more dead were counted in Mullaitivu and Vadamaradchi East. [46]

More than one million people have been displaced from their homes. Apart from homes, many hotels were also reported to have been damaged. Hotels along the south coast were full of both foreign tourists and Sri Lankans making use of the long Christmas weekend. Twenty thousand soldiers were deployed in government-controlled areas to assist in relief operations and maintain law and order after sporadic looting. Curfews had been imposed in some areas to curb looting. Local media reported that landmines left after the two-decade civil war had been washed up and spread by the surge of water.

The main highway to the south runs along the coast and was closed in the aftermath of the tsunami delaying relief supplies. A huge effort to deliver supplies has been made by large numbers of private individuals filling their own vans and pickup trucks with food, clothing and bottled water and driving to affected areas.

Thailand

Thai media reports that over 2,000 are feared killed, with 1,538 confirmed deaths and 8,950 injuries. The popular tourist resort of Phuket was badly hit. The smaller but increasingly popular resort area of Khao Lak some 80 km north of Phuket was hit far worse and there are said to be around 700 corpses on the beach in Khao Lak, while the total amount of dead in Khao Lak may exceed 2000. The severity of the situation in Khao Lak is probably explained by the fact, that unlike the high-rising city of Phuket, the village of Khao Lak only had low built bungalows instead of high-rise concrete hotels. Khao Lak also has an extensive area of flatland only a few meters above the sea level, on which most bungalows were situated.

Thailand deputy interior minister Sutham Sangprathum reports over 700 tourists among Thailand's casualties. The bodies of 44 foreign tourists are reported to have been recovered at Phuket. Hundreds of holiday bungalows on the Phi Phi Islands were washed out to sea. Lorry drivers were quick to offer assistance, driving victims to higher ground and away from the surging waters. Local reports say many scuba divers were found dead, with their bodies torn apart by the tsunami. Among the dead was Bhumi Jensen, a grandson of King Rama IX, whose body was found at Phang Nga on Monday afternoon.

Other directly affected countries and territories

Australia	Tremors felt along the north-western coast, some minor flooding. Seas off Western Australia are reportedly surging between Geraldton, 425Km north of Perth, where several boats were ripped from their moorings, and Busselton, 325Km south of Perth, where a father and son in a boat were washed out to sea, but were later rescued. No direct casualties have been reported within Australia.
Bangladesh	Two children killed after a tourist boat capsized in surging waves.
Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Australia)	After earlier scares, no casualties were reported.
Kenya	Waves struck Kenya causing some minor damage. Two people reported drowned at Watamu, near Mombasa, another one injured.
Madagascar	Flooding in low-lying coastal districts. No reported casualties. A 1.6 metre wave swept through a village near Manakara canto — up to 1,200 reported homeless.
Mauritius	Struck by wave, no reports on casualties, a village in the north of the island completely submerged.
Myanmar (Burma)	Thirty-four people confirmed killed, mostly in the Irrawaddy Delta, several villages and a bridge destroyed. The ruling military government rarely release details about any disaster, so exact numbers of casualties and homeless are difficult to obtain. International humanitarian organisations in Rangoon report 56 deaths, but expect the final toll to be significantly higher.
Oman	Waves hit coastline but no casualties.
Réunion (France)	Over 200 boats sunk, the damage to the port infrastructures estimated at over € 500,000, according to the Chamber of Commerce.
Seychelles	Three killed, seven people missing. Major bridge in Victoria destroyed
Singapore	Tremors felt by residents in high-rise apartment blocks in the south of the city-state.

Countries that have lost citizens who were traveling abroad

Argentina	Eleven missing in Thailand, five in Indonesia, and two in India, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Australia	About 5,500 Australian tourists are believed to have been in the tourist areas of Thailand and Sri Lanka at the time of the tsunamis. Seven Australians are reported as having been killed, including a six-month old girl in Phuket and 16-year old male with Downs syndrome. The Department of Foreign Affairs said that "grave fears" were held for at least eleven Australians. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has warned that the death toll among Australian tourists will rise. A well-known footballer, Troy Broadbridge of the Melbourne Football Club, is among those missing.
Austria	Four Austrians killed in Thailand. Over one hundred Austrians were reported injured, out of an estimated 1,500 in the region. Several other Austrian tourists are missing.
Belgium	Three Belgian tourists were reported killed in Phuket, several more missing.
Brazil	The Brazilian diplomat Lys Amayo de Benedek D'Avola and her 10-year old son died in Phi Phi, Thailand, two other reported missing by Thai authorities.
Canada	Three Canadians have been confirmed dead, one in Sri Lanka and two in Phuket. Another dozen have been confirmed injured. Another two Canadians have been reported missing in Phuket. In Maldives there are 11 Canadians that could not be contacted; also in the Maldives, 45 Canadian pilots are safe and sound.
Chile	Two missing in Thailand, two in Malaysia, and another in Indonesia, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
China	One has been confirmed dead in Thailand, and five missing.
Colombia	An eighteen month-old baby was reported dead in Thailand; her two parents and brother have been confirmed injured, according to the Consul of Colombia in Jakarta.
Czech Republic	Five injured in Thailand, another 381 of over 1,000 Czechs in the region are out of reach.
Denmark	Three confirmed dead in Thailand. Some 200 missing of which 14 have been confirmed to have been in danger. [47]
Finland	One reportedly killed in Sri Lanka and one in Thailand, according to local TV news (YLE) quoting officials. Various Internet pages quote the names of at least 50 injured. Over 400 are still reported to be missing. Eyewitness reports suggest at least several deaths.
France	At least fourteen killed. Twenty French nationals are missing.
Germany	Approximately 10,000 German tourists are in the region. Though there are first reports that a large number of German-language tourists may have been killed, the German Government and the German travel agencies have decided not to publish any numbers of casualties - due to respect of the victims.
Greece	One person lightly injured in Phuket, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Approximately 300 Greek tourists are estimated to be in Phuket.
Hong Kong	One citizen (39 year old male) were confirmed dead in Thailand. Some 200 missing (unofficial numbers according to the local major media (RTHK, TVB).
Hungary	Eight Hungarians were injured in Phuket, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ireland	Two Irishwomen reported missing in Thailand.
Israel	One tourist (named Sue Mor) has been lightly injured in Sri Lanka. Some 100 missing. [48]
Italy	At least thirteen killed, eleven in Thailand (six at Phuket, three in Phi Phi) and two in Sri Lanka. About 100 people missing.
Japan	At least fifteen confirmed bodies of Japanese and up to 700 missing. Amongst the missing are Sadayuki Yoshino, the First Secretary at the Japanese Embassy in Bangkok, and his son who were vacationing together at Phuket.
Malaysia	Two deaths in Thailand.
Mexico	Three out of 24 tourists reported missing by the Mexican Embassy in Thailand.
Netherlands	Three confirmed dead, thirteen still missing, most from Phuket or Koh Phi Phi.
New Zealand	The Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed one New Zealand woman died in Phuket, Thailand. 400 New Zealanders in the areas affected have not yet been contacted [49].
Norway	Thirteen people reported dead, two in Sri Lanka and eleven in Phuket, Thailand. The Norwegian consulate in Bangkok is operating with a list of over 800 missing Norwegian nationals. For more information about Norwegian relief efforts and personal stories, go here.
Poland	According to Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs four Polish tourists are believed dead and at least 43 people are missing (28 in Thailand, 15 in Sri Lanka). Three people are hospitalised in Phuket and Krabi. The number of Polish tourists in the affected areas is estimated to be around 2,000.
Portugal	At least three persons are missing in Phuket and two are injured, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Romania	Two Romanian tourists were earlier reported missing in Phuket, but they have been found safe. Over 20 Romanian tourists are estimated to be in the affected region, but according to Cristian Gaginschi, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there are no indications that any Romanian has been affected by the earthquake.
Russia	At least four persons are missing and several tourists received minor injuries at Phuket, according to a spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. About 800 Russian tourists are in Thailand. Around 250 Russian tourists were in Sri Lanka, of which all are safe.
Singapore	At least 3 are dead : 1 in Sri Lanka, 2 in Phuket. 16 others are still missing : 14 in Phuket, 2 in Aceh [50].
South Africa	The Department of Foreign Affairs reported at least two persons dead in Thailand, and at least three others missing.
South Korea	The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported five dead and eleven missing.
Spain	According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 18 tourists are hospitalised in Thailand and 3 more are missing. No deaths reported to the moment.
Sweden	6 have been confirmed dead according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Swedish government is not willing to give any estimates of how many nationals who may be dead, but say that they fear the number is substantial. Approximately 20,000 Swedish nationals were in Thailand at the time of the disaster, 1,600 of whom are currently missing, according to Swedish press. 40 are missing in Sri Lanka, and 9 on the Indian Andaman islands.
Switzerland	The foreign ministry confirmed 9 casualties - 7 of them have been identified and two were washed away in front of their relatives with no hope to be found alive. More than 2200 Swiss nationals are expected to have been in the south-east asia at the time of disaster.
Taiwan	At least one dead, and many injured. 35 fishing boats from Taiwan in Phuket were damaged, sailors suffer minor injury.
Turkey	26 Turks are missing, 3 of them are divers; 17 in Thailand, 3 in Sri Lanka, 2 in Myanmar, 1 in Maldives, 1 in Malaysia, 1 in Indonesia, 1 in India. 2 others injured are now in a hospital in Phuket. The plane, which was sent by Turkish goverment to gather all the Turks in the region, returns with only 19 survivors and AKUT, a well-known Turkish search and rescue organisation. Turkish GSM operator Turkcell announced that signals from 2,500 of its subscribers were received in the area, meaning at least 2,500 Turks were present when the disaster occured. [51]
United Kingdom	Over 10,000 British holidaymakers are estimated to have been in the region. Seventeen have been confirmed as dead - ten in Thailand, four in Sri Lanka and three in the Maldives [52]
United States	The U.S. Department of State reports at least eleven dead (including a well-known fashion photographer, Fernando Bengoechea); out of them, five died in Sri Lanka and one in Thailand. One hundred are still unaccounted for.
Uruguay	At least 2 confirmed dead.

Damage in historical and global context

File:2004 indian ocean earthquake tectonic.jpg

Regional map showing physiographic features, tectonic plate movements, and locations of volcanoes, earthquakes, and impact craters

Although the earthquake was the fourth most powerful recorded since 1899, the likely death toll is lower than would have been the case if it had struck at a densely populated area. The deadliest earthquakes recorded in recent times were the Tangshan, China, earthquake of 1976, in which 240,000 were killed, a quake in Iran in 1978 (250,000), and the Tokyo earthquake of 1923 (140,000). The deadliest earthquake in history occurred in 1556 in Shaanxi, China, with a reported death toll of 830,000 (although figures from this time period may not be reliable). [53]

The nations of the Indian Ocean do not participate in an international tsunami early warning system like that in the Pacific Ocean, mostly as a result of the historical rarity of tsunamis in the Indian Ocean. In the Pacific, a system of sensors is linked to monitoring stations so that local media can warn the populace to seek higher ground well before a tsunami arrives. Thailand is a member of the Pacific tsunami warning system, but all of its ocean buoys, upon which wave sensors are mounted, are on the east coast of the country. A single wave station south of the epicenter measured a two foot tall tsunami moving towards Australia. The US Geological Survey has stated that if a monitoring and warning system had been in place, the loss of life could have been reduced, especially in areas that were struck by tsunamis more than three hours after the initial tremor, such as Sri Lanka and India. Furthermore, in Pacific regions where tsunamis are better known, the receding of the sea from the coast would have warned many people of an impending freak wave. In the Indian Ocean region, this rare sight has been reported to have induced people to visit the coast to investigate. Also, the intensity of the tremors in India and Sri Lanka was too low to raise an alarm.

In the aftermath of the earthquake, the Indian government has decided to install equipment to warn about impending tsunamis, and to join a group of countries that would share information on tsunamis. The Malaysian government has also proposed to create a tsunami warning system, in cooperation with other countries in the region. [54]

Post-tsunami humanitarian situation

Large amounts of humanitarian aid are needed due to widespread damage to infrastructure, food and water shortages and economic damage to the fishing and tourism industries. Epidemics are of special concern, as they are highly likely due to the high population density and tropical climate of the affected areas. The United Nations has stated that the largest relief operation in history is underway.

The overwhelming concern of humanitarian and government agencies is to quickly identify and bury the dead before they become a health issue and contribute to the spread of diseases such as cholera, diphtheria, dysentery and typhoid. (This is in accordance with widely-held belief. In practice, these diseases are largely spread by the bodily wastes of the living, with the loss of normal sanitary facilities and the shared use of inadequate ones in refuges.) Other high priorities are delivery of medical supplies and personnel to overwhelmed hospitals and clinics, tent shelters and clothing to people who have lost their houses and belongings, and potable water. Many usual sources of water were spoiled either by salt water, broken by the force of the tsunami, or contaminated with bodies of dead people or livestock, requiring water purification equipment or trucking potable water into the affected region.

Humanitarian assistance

Governments, humanitarian organisations and individuals around the world have scrambled to offer aid and technical. The World Bank estimates the amount of aid needed at USD 5 billion ([55]). Although countries are providing relief funds, the UN has criticized both the U.S and Europe for allocating inadequate resources. UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland initially categorized the response of Western countries to the disaster as "stingy", but later claimed to have been "misinterpreted". Speaking at a press conference the following day, Mr. Egeland stated that his earlier comment did not apply to any specific country, and that the response so far had been "overwhelmingly positive".

Alphabetical by country or organization:

Australia	The Australian Government committed an initial AUD 10 million (USD 7.7 million) to the relief effort, to be distributed to international aid organisations. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says funding will be increased once details of needs become clearer. Three Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules were immediately dispatched, laden with essential supplies such as medical supplies,water purification units, blankets and bottled water. Two more Hercules are also being sent, and once supplies are delivered, will remain in the region to ferry more supplies to the affected areas. Ten medical specialists are also on board. Two body identification teams, diplomatic staff and medical supplies are on route to Thailand aboard a donated Virgin Blue flight. In addition the Victorian State Government has announced it will give AUD 1.5 million (USD 1.2 million) to help victims of the tsunamis, the New South Wales State Government has donated AUD 2 million (USD 1.6 million) while the Australian public has raised over AUD 1 million (USD 0.77 million) so far.
Canada	The Canadian government has pledged CAD 4 million (USD 3.3 million) as an immediate contribution toward the aid effort and will also be providing blankets, water purification devices, and generators through the Canadian International Development Agency.
Catalonia	The Catalan government has sent EUR 100,000 for building reconstruction and food for the affected people in Sri Lanka.
Chile	The Chilean government will send six young physicians to Sri Lanka and has opened a special bank account for public donations.
China	The Chinese government will send RMB 21.63 million (USD 2.6 million) to Southeast Asia.
Czech Republic	The Czech government will give aid worth EUR 328,000 (USD 0.5 million), in various forms.
Denmark	The Danish government will give aid worth EUR 1.35 million.
European Union	The EU is providing immediate emergency aid of EUR 3 million (USD 4.1 million) for victims to meet "initial vital needs", with more substantial aid to be provided later.
Finland	The Finnish government allocated EUR 500,000 (USD 0.68 million) to help the victims of the tsunamis. In addition, EUR 75,000 and a field hospital by the Finnish Red Cross and EUR 25,000 by Save the Children Finland will be sent.
France	France has sent a plane with 100 rescue personnel, as well as 800 kg (1,750 lb) of medical supplies.
Germany	The German government allocated EUR 3 million (USD 3.9 million) for immediate aid. According to a press release from the German secretary of foreign affairs, units of the governmental technical relief organisation (THW) are going to be sent to Thailand and Sri Lanka for rescue purposes, together with drinking water purification equipment. Additional medical help is sent to Phuket this afternoon, including the Medivac Airbus - which is capable to fly out up to 30 intensive care patient out of the region to specialized hospital - of the German Air Force.
Greece	Greece will allocate EUR 300,000 (USD 0.4 million) to the Maldives and Sri Lanka, and two planes will carry to those countries over 6 tons of humanitarian materials.
Hungary	A medical and rescue team of 10 has departed to Thailand and Srí Lanka, providing two containers and ten pallets of emergency goods.
IFRCS	In Geneva, the IFRCS appealed for CHF 7.5 million (about USD 6.6 million) for "immediate support" to an estimated 500,000 survivors.
Ireland	The Irish government pledges EUR 1 million (USD 1.4 million) in response to the earthquake-caused disaster in South Asia.[56]
Israel	Israel has sent baby food and medicines worth some USD 100,000 to the affected countries. In addition, an Israeli medical team was dispatched to Sri Lanka. An offer of assistance to India in the form of a search and rescue team as well as food and medicines has been extended. [57]
Italy	The Italian Government has started an airlift to send medical goods and to evacuate foreign citizens. A team of the Italian Civil Defense has been sent to coordinate all the following operation. A field hospital is being sent by the Italian Armed Forces. The CEI (Italian Conference of Bishops) has already sent 100.000 euros (part of a donation of USD 1.700.000 from Caritas Internationalis) and is collecting national donations.[58]
Japan	Japan will provide USD 30 million in aid to affected countries, and will send three navy vessels to waters off Thailand to help search for missing people.
Kuwait	The Kuwaiti government has donated at KWD 500,000 (USD 1.7 million) as humanitarian aid.
Luxembourg	Luxembourg has announced it will donate at least EUR 200,000 (USD 0.3 million) as humanitarian aid.
Médecins Sans Frontières	MSF is dispatching 32 tons of relief supplies to Sumatra; medical and assessment teams have been sent to many of the affected areas. [59] [60]
Netherlands	The Dutch government has reserved EUR 2 million (USD 2.7 million) for aid to the affected area. The Dutch Red Cross has dedicated EUR 100,000 (USD 0.1 million) for emergency aid.
New Zealand	The New Zealand government announced it will donate NZD 500,000 (USD 0.4 million) to the Red Cross, and an airforce C-130 Hercules has been sent for evacuation and transport of relief supplies.
Norway	The Norwegian government has allocated NOK 50 million (USD 8.2 million) to be distributed to the UN, the Red Cross and other aid organisations.
Pakistan	The government of Pakistan has announced a PKR 10 million (USD 0.2 million) relief package for the earthquake victims of Sri Lanka. This consists of goods such as tents, medicines, drinking water and food items. Additional aid has been promised.
Singapore	The Singaporean government has pledged SGD 500,000 (USD 0.3 million) to the Singapore Red Cross Society to help them start an appeal for public donations. A Singapore Armed Forces medical team is on standby to fly to Indonesia to help. Singapore is also dispatching an emergency consular team to Phuket and sending SGD 2 million (USD 1.2 million)of aid to the countries affected.
Spain	The Spanish Government has allocated EUR 1 million (USD 1.4 million) to finance a first humanitarian shipment for the victims. Two cargoes with humanitarian aid have taken off on December 28 to Sri Lanka.
Sweden	SEK 7 million (USD 1.04 million) are being taken from the Swedish International Development Agency, 5 million of which are channeled through the ICRC. The Swedish Salvation Army has donated SEK 1 million (USD 150,000). The government is also supplying tents and blankets to Sri Lanka. Further assistance to be supplied if so requested, primarily by the UN. 25 personnel have been sent to the disaster area for search and rescue operations. A team from the police force has been sent to Thailand to help with the identification of the dead. An airlift operation has been engaged to fly home the approximately 20.000 Swedish citizens who are in the area. According to the Government all of which should be home before January 4. Swedish media has criticized the government for not doing enough for their nationals and for others.
Switzerland	The Swiss government has allocated CHF 1 million (USD 0.88 million).
Taiwan	The Taiwanese government has donated three tons of emergency goods and USD 0.25 million to Indonesia, India, Thaliand, and Sri Lanka. Relief teams have been dispatched to assess damages in preparation for humanitarian aid efforts.
Turkey	Hit in August and November 1999 by a series of earthquakes that killed over 20,000, Turkey has started collecting funds, hoping to reach at least EUR 170,000 (USD 0.2 million), which will be used in reconstruction projects.
UAE	USD 2 million and Red Crescent was planning to send three plane-loads of aid to India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka [61].
United Kingdom	The British government has already allocated GBP 450,000 (USD 0.6 million) in aid. GBP 400,000 were given through the EU to the Red Cross and GBP 50,000 were donated to WHO, to help prevent maladies after the ocean surges. In addition, planes carrying essential equipment have been dispatched to some of the affected areas.
UNHCR	The UNHCR in Sri Lanka is opening up its local relief stockpiles to deliver immediate emergency assistance. [62]
UNICEF	Clothing and more than 30,000 blankets and sleeping mats to Sri Lanka 1,600 water tanks, 30,000 blankets, medical supplies and hundreds of thousands of water purification pills to India Similar supplies to Indonesia and the Maldives[63].
UN Development Program	USD 100,000 each to Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, the Maldives and Thailand to help them assess and coordinate emergency needs[64].
UN Population Fund	Up to USD 1 million and extra staff to help ensure that the special health needs of pregnant and nursing women were met [65].
United States	The United States government has allocated USD 400,000 (EUR 300,000) to India, Indonesia, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka. Officials are currently working on a USD 4 million (EUR 3 million) aid package to help the Red Cross. Also, the United States has dispatched disaster teams to aid the nations affected. The United States is also preparing an initial USD 15 million (EUR 11 million) aid package for affected nations. Additionally, the United States has offered assistance from its troops stationed in Japan...

Sites accepting on-line donations for relief efforts

Region	Organization	Donation webpage	Local telephone number
International	IFRCS	International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
	MSF [66]	Médecins Sans Frontières
	UNICEF [67]	United Nations Children's Fund
Australia	Red Cross [68]	Red Cross	1800 811700
	UNICEF [69]	UNICEF	1300 884233
	CARE [70]	Care Australia	1800 020046
	Oxfam [71]	Oxfam Community Aid Abroad International Crisis Fund	1800 034034
	World Vision [72]	World Vision Australia	133240
Canada	Red Cross [73]	Canadian Red Cross online donations	1-800-418-1111
Canada	Unicef [74]	Unicef Canada online donations	1-800-567-4483
Finland	Red Cross [75]	Finnish Red Cross online donations	0600 41 41 41 (20 Eur) 0600 412 777 (10 Eur) 0600 411 777 (5.05 Eur)
	Save The Children [76]	The Children's Emerency Aid	0700 0 4441 (12.50 Eur)
	FinnChurchAid [77]	FinnChurchAid donations	0600 14747 (5.01 Eur) 0600 11201 (10.10 Eur)
	UNICEF [78]	Finnish UNICEF online donations	0600 14501 (15.11 Eur)
	Plan International [79]	Plan Suomi Säätiö donations
	World Vision [80]	World Vision Suomi
Germany	Deutsches Rotes Kreuz [81]	Deutsches Rotes Kreuz - Spendenkonto Südasien	01805 414004 (0,12 Cent pro Minute)
Italy	Caritas Italiana [82]	Caritas Italiana Come contribuire
	Intersos	Intersos
	Cesvi [83]	Cesvi
India	The Hindu	The Hindu Relief Fund
	PM's office	Prime Minister's National Relief Fund
	PM's office	Prime Minister's National Relief Fund PayPal Option
		Tamilnadu Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund
Netherlands	Samenwerkende Hulporganisaties (SHO)	Giro 555	070 333 94 44
New Zealand	Red Cross [84]	(page offline)	0800 RED CROSS
New Zealand	World Vision [85]	World Vision NZ	0800 80 2000
Norway	Red Cross [86]	Norwegian Red Cross online donations	820 43 000 (NOK 100)
Denmark	Red Cross [87]	[88]	90 56 56 56 (DKR 100) SMS RK to 1231 (DKR 100)
Singapore	Mercy Relief [89]	Mercy Relief donations	1900 911 1150 (S$50) 1900 911 1110 (S$10)
Sweden	Red Cross [90]	Swedish Red Cross online donations	020-213 213
	UNICEF [91]	Swedish UNICEF online donations
	MSF [92]	Swedish MSF online donations
Spain	Red Cross [93]	Spanish Red Cross online donations	902 222 292
	Intermón Oxfam [94]	Intermón Oxfam online donations	902 330 331
	Cáritas [95]	Cáritas Española	902 339 999
	Médicos del Mundo [96]	Médicos del Mundo España online donations	902 286 286
Switzerland	Swiss Solidarity [97]	Glückskette
Turkey	Türk Kızılayı [98]	Asya Depremi Yardım Kampanyası	+90 (312) 430 23 00
United Kingdom	Christian Aid [99]	Christian Aid
	MSF [100]	Médecins Sans Frontières	020 7067 4214
	Red Cross [101]	British Red Cross	08705 125125
United States	Red Cross	American Red Cross	1-800-435-7669
	DWB	Doctors Without Borders	1-888-392-0392
	AID	Association for India's Development	1-888-TALK-2-AID
	networkforgood.org	Directory of various NGOs working on the ground

External links

Sites with links to relevant pages

Regional map showing physiographic features, tectonic plate movements, and locations of volcanoes, earthquakes, and impact craters

Although the earthquake was the fourth most powerful recorded since 1899, the likely death toll is lower than would have been the case if it had struck at a densely populated area. The deadliest earthquakes recorded in recent times were the Tangshan, China, earthquake of 1976, in which 240,000 were killed, a quake in Iran in 1978 (250,000), and the Tokyo earthquake of 1923 (140,000). The deadliest earthquake in history occurred in 1556 in Shaanxi, China, with a reported death toll of 830,000 (although figures from this time period may not be reliable). [102]

The nations of the Indian Ocean do not participate in an international tsunami early warning system like that in the Pacific Ocean, mostly as a result of the historical rarity of tsunamis in the Indian Ocean. In the Pacific, a system of sensors is linked to monitoring stations so that local media can warn the populace to seek higher ground well before a tsunami arrives. Thailand is a member of the Pacific tsunami warning system, but all of its ocean buoys, upon which wave sensors are mounted, are on the east coast of the country. A single wave station south of the epicenter measured a two foot tall tsunami moving towards Australia. The US Geological Survey has stated that if a monitoring and warning system had been in place, the loss of life could have been reduced, especially in areas that were struck by tsunamis more than three hours after the initial tremor, such as Sri Lanka and India. Furthermore, in Pacific regions where tsunamis are better known, the receding of the sea from the coast would have warned many people of an impending freak wave. In the Indian Ocean region, this rare sight has been reported to have induced people to visit the coast to investigate. Also, the intensity of the tremors in India and Sri Lanka was too low to raise an alarm.

In the aftermath of the earthquake, the Indian government has decided to install equipment to warn about impending tsunamis, and to join a group of countries that would share information on tsunamis. The Malaysian government has also proposed to create a tsunami warning system, in cooperation with other countries in the region. [103]

Post-tsunami humanitarian situation

Large amounts of humanitarian aid are needed due to widespread damage to infrastructure, food and water shortages and economic damage to the fishing and tourism industries. Epidemics are of special concern, as they are highly likely due to the high population density and tropical climate of the affected areas. The United Nations has stated that the largest relief operation in history is underway.

The overwhelming concern of humanitarian and government agencies is to quickly identify and bury the dead before they become a health issue and contribute to the spread of diseases such as cholera, diphtheria, dysentery and typhoid. (This is in accordance with widely-held belief. In practice, these diseases are largely spread by the bodily wastes of the living, with the loss of normal sanitary facilities and the shared use of inadequate ones in refuges.) Other high priorities are delivery of medical supplies and personnel to overwhelmed hospitals and clinics, tent shelters and clothing to people who have lost their houses and belongings, and potable water. Many usual sources of water were spoiled either by salt water, broken by the force of the tsunami, or contaminated with bodies of dead people or livestock, requiring water purification equipment or trucking potable water into the affected region.

Humanitarian assistance

Governments, humanitarian organisations and individuals around the world have scrambled to offer aid and technical. The World Bank estimates the amount of aid needed at USD 5 billion ([104]). Although countries are providing relief funds, the UN has criticized both the U.S and Europe for allocating inadequate resources. UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland initially categorized the response of Western countries to the disaster as "stingy", but later claimed to have been "misinterpreted". Speaking at a press conference the following day, Mr. Egeland stated that his earlier comment did not apply to any specific country, and that the response so far had been "overwhelmingly positive".

Alphabetical by country or organization:

Australia	The Australian Government committed an initial AUD 10 million (USD 7.7 million) to the relief effort, to be distributed to international aid organisations. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says funding will be increased once details of needs become clearer. Three Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules were immediately dispatched, laden with essential supplies such as medical supplies,water purification units, blankets and bottled water. Two more Hercules are also being sent, and once supplies are delivered, will remain in the region to ferry more supplies to the affected areas. Ten medical specialists are also on board. Two body identification teams, diplomatic staff and medical supplies are on route to Thailand aboard a donated Virgin Blue flight. In addition the Victorian State Government has announced it will give AUD 1.5 million (USD 1.2 million) to help victims of the tsunamis, the New South Wales State Government has donated AUD 2 million (USD 1.6 million) while the Australian public has raised over AUD 1 million (USD 0.77 million) so far.
Canada	The Canadian government has pledged CAD 4 million (USD 3.3 million) as an immediate contribution toward the aid effort and will also be providing blankets, water purification devices, and generators through the Canadian International Development Agency.
Catalonia	The Catalan government has sent EUR 100,000 for building reconstruction and food for the affected people in Sri Lanka.
Chile	The Chilean government will send six young physicians to Sri Lanka and has opened a special bank account for public donations.
China	The Chinese government will send RMB 21.63 million (USD 2.6 million) to Southeast Asia.
Czech Republic	The Czech government will give aid worth EUR 328,000 (USD 0.5 million), in various forms.
Denmark	The Danish government will give aid worth EUR 1.35 million.
European Union	The EU is providing immediate emergency aid of EUR 3 million (USD 4.1 million) for victims to meet "initial vital needs", with more substantial aid to be provided later.
Finland	The Finnish government allocated EUR 500,000 (USD 0.68 million) to help the victims of the tsunamis. In addition, EUR 75,000 and a field hospital by the Finnish Red Cross and EUR 25,000 by Save the Children Finland will be sent.
France	France has sent a plane with 100 rescue personnel, as well as 800 kg (1,750 lb) of medical supplies.
Germany	The German government allocated EUR 3 million (USD 3.9 million) for immediate aid. According to a press release from the German secretary of foreign affairs, units of the governmental technical relief organisation (THW) are going to be sent to Thailand and Sri Lanka for rescue purposes, together with drinking water purification equipment. Additional medical help is sent to Phuket this afternoon, including the Medivac Airbus - which is capable to fly out up to 30 intensive care patient out of the region to specialized hospital - of the German Air Force.
Greece	Greece will allocate EUR 300,000 (USD 0.4 million) to the Maldives and Sri Lanka, and two planes will carry to those countries over 6 tons of humanitarian materials.
IFRCS	In Geneva, the IFRCS appealed for CHF 7.5 million (about USD 6.6 million) for "immediate support" to an estimated 500,000 survivors.
Ireland	The Irish government pledges EUR 1 million (USD 1.4 million) in response to the earthquake-caused disaster in South Asia.[105]
Israel	Israel has sent baby food and medicines worth some USD 100,000 to the affected countries. In addition, an Israeli medical team was dispatched to Sri Lanka. An offer of assistance to India in the form of a search and rescue team as well as food and medicines has been extended. [106]
Italy	The CEI (Italian Conference of Bishops) has already sent 100.000 euros (part of a donation of USD 1.700.000 from Caritas Internationalis) and is collecting national donations.[107]
Japan	Japan will provide USD 30 million in aid to affected countries, and will send three navy vessels to waters off Thailand to help search for missing people.
Kuwait	The Kuwaiti government has donated at KWD 500,000 (USD 1.7 million) as humanitarian aid.
Luxembourg	Luxembourg has announced it will donate at least EUR 200,000 (USD 0.3 million) as humanitarian aid.
Médecins Sans Frontières	MSF is dispatching 32 tons of relief supplies to Sumatra; medical and assessment teams have been sent to many of the affected areas. [108] [109]
Netherlands	The Dutch government has reserved EUR 2 million (USD 2.7 million) for aid to the affected area. The Dutch Red Cross has dedicated EUR 100,000 (USD 0.1 million) for emergency aid.
New Zealand	The New Zealand government announced it will donate NZD 500,000 (USD 0.4 million) to the Red Cross, and an airforce C-130 Hercules has been sent for evacuation and transport of relief supplies.
Norway	The Norwegian government has allocated NOK 50 million (USD 8.2 million) to be distributed to the UN, the Red Cross and other aid organisations.
Pakistan	The government of Pakistan has announced a PKR 10 million (USD 0.2 million) relief package for the earthquake victims of Sri Lanka. This consists of goods such as tents, medicines, drinking water and food items. Additional aid has been promised.
Singapore	The Singaporean government has pledged SGD 500,000 (USD 0.3 million) to the Singapore Red Cross Society to help them start an appeal for public donations. A Singapore Armed Forces medical team is on standby to fly to Indonesia to help. Singapore is also dispatching an emergency consular team to Phuket and sending SGD 2 million (USD 1.2 million)of aid to the countries affected.
Spain	The Spanish Government has allocated EUR 1 million (USD 1.4 million) to finance a first humanitarian shipment for the victims. Two cargoes with humanitarian aid have taken off on December 28 to Sri Lanka.
Sweden	SEK 7 million (USD 1.04 million) are being taken from the Swedish International Development Agency, 5 million of which are channeled through the ICRC. The Swedish Salvation Army has donated SEK 1 million (USD 150,000). The government is also supplying tents and blankets to Sri Lanka. Further assistance to be supplied if so requested, primarily by the UN. 25 personnel have been sent to the disaster area for search and rescue operations. A team from the police force has been sent to Thailand to help with the identification of the dead. An airlift operation has been engaged to fly home the approximately 20.000 Swedish citizens who are in the area. According to the Government all of which should be home before January 4. Swedish media has criticized the government for not doing enough for their nationals and for others.
Switzerland	The Swiss government has allocated CHF 1 million (USD 0.88 million).
Taiwan	The Taiwanese government has donated three tons of emergency goods and USD 0.25 million to Indonesia, India, Thaliand, and Sri Lanka. Relief teams have been dispatched to assess damages in preparation for humanitarian aid efforts.
Turkey	Hit in August and November 1999 by a series of earthquakes that killed over 20,000, Turkey has started collecting funds, hoping to reach at least EUR 170,000 (USD 0.2 million), which will be used in reconstruction projects.
UAE	USD 2 million and Red Crescent was planning to send three plane-loads of aid to India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka [110].
United Kingdom	The British government has already allocated GBP 450,000 (USD 0.6 million) in aid. GBP 400,000 were given through the EU to the Red Cross and GBP 50,000 were donated to WHO, to help prevent maladies after the ocean surges. In addition, planes carrying essential equipment have been dispatched to some of the affected areas.
UNHCR	The UNHCR in Sri Lanka is opening up its local relief stockpiles to deliver immediate emergency assistance. [111]
UNICEF	Clothing and more than 30,000 blankets and sleeping mats to Sri Lanka 1,600 water tanks, 30,000 blankets, medical supplies and hundreds of thousands of water purification pills to India Similar supplies to Indonesia and the Maldives[112].
UN Development Program	USD 100,000 each to Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, the Maldives and Thailand to help them assess and coordinate emergency needs[113].
UN Population Fund	Up to USD 1 million and extra staff to help ensure that the special health needs of pregnant and nursing women were met [114].
United States	The United States government has allocated USD 400,000 (EUR 300,000) to India, Indonesia, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka. Officials are currently working on a USD 4 million (EUR 3 million) aid package to help the Red Cross. Also, the United States has dispatched disaster teams to aid the nations affected. The United States is also preparing an initial USD 15 million (EUR 11 million) aid package for affected nations. Additionally, the United States has offered assistance from its troops stationed in Japan...

Sites accepting on-line donations for relief efforts

Region	Organization	Donation webpage	Local telephone number
International	IFRCS	International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
	MSF [115]	Médecins Sans Frontières
	UNICEF [116]	United Nations Children's Fund
Australia	Red Cross [117]	Red Cross	1800 811700
	UNICEF [118]	UNICEF	1300 884233
	CARE [119]	Care Australia	1800 020046
	Oxfam [120]	Oxfam Community Aid Abroad International Crisis Fund	1800 034034
	World Vision [121]	World Vision Australia	133240
Canada	Red Cross [122]	Canadian Red Cross online donations	1-800-418-1111
Canada	Unicef [123]	Unicef Canada online donations	1-800-567-4483
Finland	Red Cross [124]	Finnish Red Cross online donations	0600 41 41 41 (20 Eur) 0600 412 777 (10 Eur) 0600 411 777 (5.05 Eur)
	Save The Children [125]	The Children's Emerency Aid	0700 0 4441 (12.50 Eur)
	FinnChurchAid [126]	FinnChurchAid donations	0600 14747 (5.01 Eur) 0600 11201 (10.10 Eur)
	UNICEF [127]	Finnish UNICEF online donations	0600 14501 (15.11 Eur)
	Plan International [128]	Plan Suomi Säätiö donations
	World Vision [129]	World Vision Suomi
Germany	Deutsches Rotes Kreuz [130]	Deutsches Rotes Kreuz - Spendenkonto Südasien	01805 414004 (0,12 Cent pro Minute)
Italy	Caritas Italiana [131]	Caritas Italiana Come contribuire
	Intersos	Intersos
	Cesvi [132]	Cesvi
India	The Hindu	The Hindu Relief Fund
	PM's office	Prime Minister's National Relief Fund
	PM's office	Prime Minister's National Relief Fund PayPal Option
		Tamilnadu Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund
Netherlands	Samenwerkende Hulporganisaties (SHO)	Giro 555	070 333 94 44
New Zealand	Red Cross [133]	(page offline)	0800 RED CROSS
New Zealand	World Vision [134]	World Vision NZ	0800 80 2000
Norway	Red Cross [135]	Norwegian Red Cross online donations	820 43 000 (NOK 100)
Denmark	Red Cross [136]	[137]	90 56 56 56 (DKR 100) SMS RK to 1231 (DKR 100)
Singapore	Mercy Relief [138]	Mercy Relief donations	1900 911 1150 (S$50) 1900 911 1110 (S$10)
Sweden	Red Cross [139]	Swedish Red Cross online donations	020-213 213
	UNICEF [140]	Swedish UNICEF online donations
	MSF [141]	Swedish MSF online donations
Spain	Red Cross [142]	Spanish Red Cross online donations	902 222 292
	Intermón Oxfam [143]	Intermón Oxfam online donations	902 330 331
	Cáritas [144]	Cáritas Española	902 339 999
	Médicos del Mundo [145]	Médicos del Mundo España online donations	902 286 286
Switzerland	Swiss Solidarity [146]	Glückskette
Turkey	Türk Kızılayı [147]	Asya Depremi Yardım Kampanyası	+90 (312) 430 23 00
United Kingdom	Christian Aid [148]	Christian Aid
	MSF [149]	Médecins Sans Frontières	020 7067 4214
	Red Cross [150]	British Red Cross	08705 125125
United States	Red Cross	American Red Cross	1-800-435-7669
	DWB	Doctors Without Borders	1-888-392-0392
	AID	Association for India's Development	1-888-TALK-2-AID
	networkforgood.org	Directory of various NGOs working on the ground

External links

Sites with links to relevant pages

News articles and reports (latest on top)

Asia Struggles with Disaster Aftermath ABC News
Tsunami Caught on Video Camera NBC
Latest Updates from Minivan (Maldivian News Source)
For latest Update of News Regarding Tsunami
British tourist among 15 dead as tsunamis lash Maldives Channel News Asia, December 27 at 00:50 (GMT +8)
Ten Killed in Burma
Asia quake death toll nears 10,000 CNN, December 26 at 13:42 EST
Over 1800 killed in South India Times of India
Tsunami hits south, southeast Asia; 9,000 feared dead New Delhi Television
Sea surges kill thousands in Asia BBC News World Edition, December 26
Huge earthquake wreaks havoc The Weekend Australian, December 26
Blog with latest updates and links on Tsunami

Sites with background or other "stable" information

Running list of news concerning the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunamis in Asia
More photos from Malé
BBC video about the tsunami (requires RealVideo codec)
British Foreign Office advice for the Maldives.
1998 geoscientific investigations of the active convergence zone between the east Eurasian and Indo-Australian Plates (GINCO I), carried out along the Sunda Arc
Footage of the tsunami - 4 different videos
More videos - 2 asian earthquake videos

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 [[Image:2004 Indonesia Tsunami.gif|framed|Animation of Indonesia tsunami (Credit: [[NOAA]])]]
-The '''2004 Indian Ocean earthquake''' was an undersea [[megathrust earthquake]] of [[moment magnitude scale|moment magnitude]] 9.0 that struck the [[Indian Ocean]] off the western coast of northern [[Sumatra]], [[Indonesia]] on [[December 26]], [[2004]] at 00:58:50 [[UTC]] (07:58:50 local time in [[Jakarta]] and [[Bangkok]]). The quake and the resulting [[tsunami]]s are being called the worst natural disaster in modern history, even though it was not the most deadly, because of the widespread nature of the impact. It was the largest [[earthquake]] on [[Earth]] since the 9.2-magnitude [[Good Friday Earthquake]] which struck [[Alaska]], [[USA]], on [[March 27]], [[1964]], and the fourth largest since [[1900]].  Tens of thousands were killed by the resulting tsunamis, which were as high as [[1 E1 m|10 m]] (33 [[foot (unit of length)|ft]]) in some locations and struck within three hours of the quake.
+The '''2004 Indian Ocean earthquake''' was an undersea[[megathrust earthquake]] of [[moment magnitude scale|moment magnitude]] 9.0 that struck the [[Indian Ocean]] off the western coast of northern [[Sumatra]], [[Indonesia]] on [[December 26]], [[2004]] at 00:58:50 [[UTC]] (07:58:50 local time in [[Jakarta]] and [[Bangkok]]). The quake and the resulting [[tsunami]]s are being called the worst natural disaster in modern history, even though it was not the most deadly, because of the limited nature of the impact. It was the largest [[earthquake]] on [[Earth]] since the 9.2-magnitude [[Good Friday Earthquake]] which struck [[Alaska]], [[USA]], on [[March 27]], [[1964]], and the third largest since [[1900]].  Tens of thousands were killed by the resulting tsunamis, which were as high as [[1 E1 m|10 m]] (33 [[foot (unit of length)|ft]]) in some locations and struck within three hours of the quake.
 The multiple tsunamis struck and ravaged coastal regions all over the Indian Ocean, devastating regions including the Indonesian province of [[Aceh]], the coast of [[Sri Lanka]], coastal areas of the [[India]]n state of [[Tamil Nadu]], the resort island of [[Phuket]], [[Thailand]], and even as far away as [[Somalia]], [[1 E6 m|4,100&nbsp;km]] (2,500&nbsp;mi) west of the [[epicenter]].
 ==Quake characteristics==
 [[Image:2004 indian ocean earthquake details.gif|thumb|250px|Locations of the initial earthquake and aftershocks]]
-The quake was initially reported as magnitude 6.8 on the [[Richter magnitude scale|Richter scale]]. On the [[moment magnitude scale]], which is more accurate for quakes of this size, the earthquake's magnitude was first reported as 8.1 by the [[United States Geological Survey]], but after further analysis they increased this first to 8.5 and 8.9 and finally 9.0.
+The quake was initially reported as magnitude 6.8 on the [[Richter magnitude scale|Richter scale]]. On the [[moment magnitude scale]], which is more accurate for quakes of this size, the earthquake's magnitude was first reported as 8.2 by the [[United States Geological Survey]], but after further analysis they increased this first to 8.5 and 8.8 and finally 9.1.
 For comparison, the largest recorded earthquake was the [[Great Chilean Earthquake]] of [[1960]], having a magnitude of 9.5. The only other larger quakes worldwide since [[1900]] were the [[1964]] [[Good Friday Earthquake]] (9.2) and a [[March 9]] [[1957]] quake [http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/eq_depot/usa/1957_03_09.html] in the [[Andreanof Islands]] (9.1), both in [[Alaska]], [[USA]]. The only other recorded 9.0 magnitude earthquake, in 1952 off the southeast coast of [[Kamchatka]], [[U.S.S.R.]], spawned tsunamis that caused extensive damage in Kamchatka, the [[Kuril Islands]] and the [[Hawaiian Islands]]. (See [http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/eqlists/10maps_world.html Top 10 earthquakes].)
@@ Line 190: / Line 190: @@
 ===Indonesia===
 [[Image:Tsunami_size_scale_26Dec2004.png|thumb|none|right|Relative size of a 10 m (33 ft) wave]]
-The count in [[Indonesia]] is 27,174. Emergency workers report 10,000 dead are reported in the single town of [[Meulaboh]] in the province of [[Aceh]] on the northern tip of [[Sumatra]].  Nine thousand are reported dead in the provincial capital of [[Banda Aceh]] and nearby towns, where dozens of buildings were destroyed in the initial earthquake.  The city was unusual in the regional disaster in that it took damage from the earthquake itself as well as the tsunami.  Initial reports from the hard-hit west coast of Sumatra are of high casualties.  Vice-President Jalla has stated that the number of dead there could reach 20,000.  Hundreds of thousands of people have been rendered homeless.
+The count in [[Indonesia]] is 27,174. Emergency workers report 10,000 dead are reported in the single town of [[Meulaboh]] in the province of [[Bob]] on the northern tip of [[Sumatra]].  Nine thousand are reported dead in the provincial capital of [[Banda Aceh]] and nearby towns, where dozens of buildings were destroyed in the initial earthquake.  The city was unusual in the regional disaster in that it took damage from the earthquake itself as well as the tsunami.  Initial reports from the hard-hit west coast of Sumatra are of high casualties.  Vice-President Jalla has stated that the number of dead there could reach 20,000.  Hundreds of thousands of people have been rendered homeless.
 Government officials are very concerned over the lack of reports from the many small islands dotting the western coast of [[Sumatra]]. Among these are the islands [[Simeuleu]] and [[Nias]]. On Nias island alone official acounts gave the number 46 while various unconfirmed sources (mostly from phone calls by relatives living in [[Jakarta]]) report death tolls of over 600, while others say the number more likely to go well over 1000. Confirmation and communications to the islands are further hampered by damage to telecommunication infrastructures, where phone lines are broken and radio networks have been said to be down due to bad weather. (source: [http://www.kompas.com/kompas-cetak/0412/28/utama/1464439.htm KCM])
@@ Line 863: / Line 863: @@
 * [http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=365697 Asia Struggles with Disaster Aftermath] ''ABC News''
 * [http://www.nbc10.com/news/4026938/detail.html Tsunami Caught on Video Camera] ''NBC''
-* [http://www.minivannews.com/news/news.php?id=142 Latest Updates from Minivan (Maldivian News Source)]
+* [http://www.safetyschool.org (Maldivian News Source)]
 * [http://www.rupya.com/chennai For latest Update of News Regarding Tsunami]
 * [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/124175/1/.html British tourist among 15 dead as tsunamis lash Maldives] ''Channel News Asia'', [[December 27]] at 00:50 (GMT +8)