What caused the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake?

Details of Tsunami Generation. 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).

Why was the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake so destructive?

It was an undersea megathrust earthquake that registered a magnitude of 9.1–9.3 Mw, reaching a Mercalli intensity up to IX in certain areas. The earthquake was caused by a rupture along the fault between the Burma Plate and the Indian Plate.

What damage did the 2004 earthquake cause?

Tsunami of 2004, caused by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake, is the most devastating tsunami in modern times, affecting 18 countries in Southeast Asia and Southern Africa, killing more than 250,000 people in a single day, and leaving more than 1.7 million homeless.

How long did the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake last?

about 10 minutes
The whole rupture lasted about 10 minutes. Compare this with California’s 1994 Northridge earthquake, which ruptured about 20 km (12 miles) and lasted 15 seconds. The portion of the fault that ruptured lies deep in the earth’s crust, in places as much as 50 km (31 miles) below the ocean floor.

Who was affected by the 2004 Sumatra earthquake?

The tsunami killed at least 225,000 people across a dozen countries, with Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, and Thailand sustaining massive damage. Indonesian officials estimated that the death toll there alone ultimately exceeded 200,000, particularly in northern Sumatra’s Aceh province.

What is the atomic bomb equivalent to a 7.0 earthquake USGS?

A magnitude 4.0 earthquake is only equivalent to about 6 tons of TNT explosives, but because the Richter scale is a base-10 logarithmic scale, the amount of energy released increases quickly: A magnitude 5.0 earthquake is about 200 tons of TNT, magnitude 6.0 is 6,270 tons, 7.0 is 199,000 tons, 8.0 is 6,270,000 tons.

How much damage did the 2004 Sumatra earthquake cost?

The estimated cost of the damage was just under $10bn (£6.4bn). Ten years on, many coastal towns and villages have rebuilt their communities and lives.

What type of earthquake was the Sumatra earthquake?

The Sumatra megathrust earthquake occurred on the interface of the India and Burma plates and was caused by the release of stresses that develop as the India plate sub ducts beneath the overriding Burma plate. The occurrence of the two, widely separated, great earthquakes within three days may have been a statistical coincidence.

When was the last tsunami in Puerto Rico?

The last time a tsunami hit Puerto Rico, it was 1918 and an earthquake had just shaken the northwest coast of the island, initiating a disaster that killed 116 and caused $4 million (about $70 million today) in damages.

What are facts about the Indian Ocean tsunami?

Scientists believe that an asteroid struck the Indian Ocean about 4,800 years ago. Earthquake-induced tsunamis are created along subduction zones, or when a lighter tectonic plate is forced above a heavier plate. The sudden rise or fall of the ocean floor displaces the entire overlying water column.

When did the tsunami hit Thailand?

Thailand was one of the countries that was hit by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Due to proximity of the Andaman coasts of Thailand situated just about 500 km east of the earthquake epicentre, the tsunami took just 2 hours to reach and strike the western coastline of the country. The Thai government reported 4,812 confirmed deaths, 8,457 injuries, and 4,499 missing after the country was hit by a tsunami caused by the Indian Ocean earthquake on 26 December 2004.