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Tsunami Research Paper

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Tsunami are waves caused by sudden movement of the ocean due to earthquakes, landslides on the floor of the sea, land falling into the ocean, volcanic eruptions, or large meteorite impacts. Most tsunamis are caused by earthquakes of large magnitude at the seafloor. When large slabs of rock are forced to slide along each other suddenly causing the water to move. The wave that is formed from this moves outwards and away from the earthquake epicenter. Landslides can cause tsunamis and so can land which falls into the ocean. Landslides happen when slopes become too steep to withstand gravity. Other ways, but less common are tsunami initiated by volcanic eruptions. These occur in several ways. If an underwater volcano erupts, the hot lava’s …show more content…

In 14 countries, this disaster killed approximately 280 thousand people with waves up to 100 feet high, having the longest duration between 8 and 10 minutes of faulting ever recorded. This became one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history, with an estimated death toll of 280,000 people, it is ranked second on the “Top ten deadliest disasters since 1900”, and even triggered earthquakes as far away as Alaska.
The epicenter was near mainland Indonesia. Despite a lag of several hours between the earthquake and the impact of the tsunami, nearly all the victims were taken by surprise. The countries affected were numerous, they ranged from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Maldives, Malaysia, Madagascar, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa. The Indonesia deaths tolled over 130 thousand, mainly in the northern province of Aceh of the island of Sumatra. Some 37,000 people are still said to be missing. Sri Lanka was less affected, and only saw casualties of 31,229, and 4,093 people missing. Also, one and half million-people lost their homes, and many orphaned or separated from their families. Death casualties in India were 10,749 people and 5,640 people missing. Thai government reported 5,395 deaths, 8,457 injuries and 28,17 missing on the 20th of June 2005. The damage of the tsunami was confined to the six southern provinces facing the Andaman Sea. In the Maldives, 82 people were killed and 26 reported

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