The Boxing Day Tsunami of 2004 (26th of December 2004) started with a 9.0 magnitude earthquake, which was the largest earthquake since the magnitude 9.2 Alaskan earthquake of 1964 and is among one of the five largest earthquakes in the past century. The earthquake occurred in a subduction zone, where the Indo-Australian plate dove under the Sumatra plate. This resulted in an earthquake related tsunami.
The resulted waves travelled at 500km/h and higher flying over the Indian Ocean. The tsunami washed across 14 different countries and across 2 continents and was the death of 275,000 people.The tsunami reached 20m in height at landfall in parts of Aceh and spread 3km inland carrying debris and salt water. Shockingly, an estimated 40,000 to 45,000 more women than men were killed in the tsunami. $9.9 billion US (estimation) was lost in total. I41,000 houses were demolished which is 47.9% of the total damage.
However the public were very kind and generous. Around $14 billion US was raised internationally, the amount and speed of which money was pledged or donated was astonishing. Around $2.5 billion and above was added to the $14 billion by the Governments of the affected counties. In the end, an average of $7,000 US was raised for every person affect by the tsunami.
The devastation of the Boxing Day Tsunami 2004 is horrible and hopefully wont happen again. However the amount of support and generosity by the whole world was amazing. The events of the Tsunami confirmations that we can all work together, no matter where we come from or who we are towards a common goal. The tsunami diminished more than 275,000 people, if we are all aware of tsunami warnings and ready to act then we can save so many more lives if the event were to repeat itself.
The devastation of the Boxing Day Tsunami 2004 is horrible and hopefully wont happen again. However the amount of support and generosity by the whole world was amazing. The events of the Tsunami confirmations that we can all work together, no matter where we come from or who we are towards a common goal. The tsunami diminished more than 275,000 people, if we are all aware of tsunami warnings and ready to act then we can save so many more lives if the event were to repeat itself.