The Effects of the Indian Ocean Tsunami

Human Consequences

• Although it is difficult to confirm exactly how many people died as a result of this natural disaster, the United States Geological survey suggests that the total number of casualties from the earthquake and tsunami that followed is 227,898. On top of the casualties, many more people were reported missing, more than half a million people were left without a home as some villages were destroyed completely and others suffered significant damage. The countries affected by the tsunami also lost many important public buildings, services and skilled workers.

Environmental Impact

• Initially, the greatest environmental impact of the Indian Ocean tsunami was the damage caused to ecosystems such as coral reefs and coastal areas and the animals and plants within them. However, these natural features, along with dunes and forests, did provide affected countries with some protection from the effects of the tsunami further inland. Further environmental problems occurred when buildings and storage facilities that contained chemicals, sewage and hazardous materials were destroyed, carrying these dangerous substances along with the debris and contaminating many areas. In turn, the ground and water supplies became contaminated, affecting drinking water and organisms living in these areas.

Economic Impact

• Before the tsunami struck in 2004, marine fishing was an important contributor to local economies in countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia. Since then, this industry has declined due to loss of many fish in local waters, damage to fishing vessels and wariness regarding ocean conditions. Damage to the coastline and coral reefs in countries such as Thailand also had a significant economic impact as these areas provided local economies with a significant income from tourism. Contamination of soil and water also caused continuing economic problems for the agricultural industries in countries affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami.

Moving Forward

• While a disaster such as this takes many years for countries to recover from economically, environmentally and socially, experience can help to reduce the impact of any future disasters. For example, in 2011 early warning systems are being developed to allow people to better prepare for any future events and provide the opportunity to evacuate at an earlier time. Lessons learned from difficulties encountered in the implementation of aid can also lead to improvements being made in the future.