The Magnitude Of The Aceh Earthquake And Tsunami 16 Years Ago

JAKARTA - Twenty-sixth December 2004 was an unforgettable day for Indonesia, especially the Acehnese. At that time, a powerful underwater earthquake occurred and triggered a tsunami. The 9.1 magnitude earthquake became a very strong megathrust earthquake, occurring where heavy oceanic plates slip beneath the lighter continental plates. The earthquake occurred in the morning, when many people had started activities. After the earthquake rocked, the tsunami began to roll about 100 kilometers west of the Sumatra coast at 07.59 WIB.

The earthquake caused the seabed to rise suddenly as high as 40 meters, triggering a large tsunami. Within 20 minutes of the earthquake, the first of several high waves hit the Banda Aceh coastline, killing more than 100,000 people and flinging Aceh to rubble.

The magnitude of the earthquake also affected neighboring countries. Sequentially, tsunami waves rolled over the coastlines of Thailand, India, and Sri Lanka. The tsunami killed tens of thousands more. Eight hours later and 5,000 miles from the epicenter of the Asian earthquake, the tsunami claimed its last death on the coast of South Africa. In all, nearly 230,000 people died, making it one of the deadliest disasters in modern history.

The earthquake that caused the tsunami in Aceh was the third worst earthquake in the world after the Chile Earthquake in 1960 and the Alaska earthquake in 1964. On May 22, 1960, the earthquake in Chile had a magnitude of 9.5 SR. The rift zone stretches an estimated 500 kilometers to nearly 1,000 kilometers along the country's coast. The city most affected by the earthquake was Valdivia. The earthquake left two million people homeless, injured at least 3,000, and killed an estimated 1,655.

According to National Geographic, the Chilean earthquake triggered a large tsunami that shot across the Pacific. The waves hit coastal communities to New Zealand, Japan and the Philippines. In Hawaii, the tsunami destroyed the coastal town of Hilo, killing 61 people.

Additionally, the Alaska earthquake in 1964 was magnitude 9.2. The earthquake was so strong that it was recorded in all states of the United States (US) except Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Delaware. The earthquake also caused significant scientific breakthroughs regarding the earthquake and how to minimize its destruction.

The violent shaking led to cuts to water, sewer and gas lines and widespread telephone and electricity disruptions. Easily tore down telephone poles, bent railroad tracks, split the road in half, uprooted buildings, cars and docks and tore houses. Seismic waves cause the earth to "ring like a bell".

According to World Vision, since the 2004 tsunami, the government and aid groups have prioritized disaster and preparedness. Just three weeks after the tsunami, representatives of 168 countries declared the Hyogo Framework for Action, which paved the way for global cooperation for the virtues of disaster. Since then, seabed earthquake sensors have been installed for early warning, and many communities have stepped up to evacuate and respond to disasters.

The massive earthquakes and tsunami in August and September 2018 have tested Indonesia's ability to adapt and improve. However, in December 2018, there was an eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau which caused underwater landslides which resulted in a tsunami on the coasts of Sumatra and Java. The tsunami that went undetected because it was triggered by volcanic activity, resulted in more than 400 people died. It is known that the Indonesian government is working on adding a volcano sensor to its warning system.