What caused the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami?
What caused the Boxing Day tsunami in the Indian Ocean? A magnitude 9.3 earthquake occurred on the seafloor off the western coast of Sumatra. It ruptured over a 1200km section of a fault under the sea, causing a huge area of the sea floor to be raised . It spread out as a tsunami.
Why do they call it Boxing Day tsunami?
The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami , also referred to as the Boxing Day Tsunami due to its occurrence at December 26, is the deadliest natural disaster in recorded history. This natural disaster is very important to study because it highlights how internationally unprepared many countries are in tsunami protocols.
What fault caused the Boxing Day tsunami?
inter-plate thrust fault
The tsunami from the 2004 M=9.1 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake was primarily caused by vertical displacement of the seafloor, in response to slip on the inter-plate thrust fault (see Tectonics section above).
How did the Boxing Day tsunami?
On December 26 2004, waves triggered by a massive earthquake slammed into the coastlines of countries ringing the Indian Ocean. The death toll was enormous. Worldwide, it is estimated that about 230,000 people died that day. Aceh province, on the northern end of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, was hit hardest.
How many died in the Boxing Day tsunami?
227,8982004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami / Number of deaths
How fast was the Boxing Day tsunami?
Fast facts: 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami In Banda Aceh, the landmass closest to the quake’s epicenter, tsunami waves topped 100 feet. The tsunami’s waves traveled across the Indian Ocean at 500 mph, the speed of a jet plane.
Can animals sense a tsunami?
Tsunamis are large waves created by earthquakes or other large disturbances in the ocean like landslides. The low vibrations created by such an earthquake sometimes cannot be detected by humans, whereas larger animals like elephants can sense the vibrations earlier.
Can you survive a tsunami in a car?
Absolutely! If your car is along way inland or many hundreds of feet above the tsunami line – then you’re good to go!