The Indonesian island of Sumatra is particularly vulnerable to this type of earthquake as it is located right on the subduction boundary between the Indo-Australia plate and Eurasian plate. Previously recorded Indonesian earthquakes with the highest number of deaths are as listed below:
- Sumatra, 1833 à 8.8- 9.2 magnitude, 6000 deaths
- Sumatra, 1861 à 8.5 magnitude, 2000+ deaths
- Papua, 1976 à 7.1 magnitude, 5 000 deaths
- Flores Region, 1992 à 7.8 magnitude, 2500 deaths
- Sumatra-Andaman Islands, 2004 à 9.1-9.3 magnitude, 283 106 deaths
- Nothern Sumatra, 2005 à 8.6 magnitude, 1 313 deaths
- Java, 2006 à6.3 magnitude, 5 780 deaths
- Sumatra, 2006 à 7.6 magnitude, 1 117 deaths
Above is footage from the 2004, boxing day earthquake which is the 3rd largest ever recorded. The epicenter of the quake was located 160 km off the coast of Sumatra, in the Pacific ocean. It triggered a huge tsunami which reached a height of 10 m. The death toll of the event was huge, totaling to 230 000 in Indonesia alone (all up 283 106 deaths), with 37, 063 people missing and 9.9 million dollars of damage was caused, with 48% of this due to the destruction of housing. Also, 500 000 people in Indonesia were displaced.
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image 1: The 2004 tsunami was an extremely traumatic event. It caused many people to suffer from depression, anxiety and mental instability.
Image 2: These events caused loss of housing and displacement of many people Image 3: Many people lost their livelihood, due to destruction of their business, land or crops. Also many people in Indonesia earn their income through fishing. After tsunami's, particularly the 2004 boxing day tsunami, many of the fish were washed up dead, coastline was destroyed and rivers were polluted, which meant these people lost their source of income. |
Impacts on the Environment, Society and Economy
Some of the negative effects on the natural environment which result from these disasters include: coastline destruction, contamination of freshwater with saltwater and ruble, habitat destruction, pollution, loss of species in ecosystems due to displacement or death of species and destruction of reefs.
These issues lead to other issues which affect the society of Indonesia, as well as it's economy.
Earthquakes and the collateral damage which follow have a huge impact on the economy of Indonesia. Huge losses occur in the farming industry as following disasters such as, earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides and fires, crop and livestock can be destroyed, particularly in underlying areas. Huge losses are also caused in the fishing industry if the earthquake is followed by flooding or tsunami’s. Depending on the severity of the earthquake, many small businesses, factories and large industries can be destroyed, therefore not only causing the loss of income for people within Indonesia, but also the loss of trade with other countries as everything needs to be rebuilt before it can become functional again. Another huge impact on the economy is the cost of clean up after a disaster, as well as rebuilding of the infrastructure.
The livelihoods of the population is negatively affected as many people not only lose their source of income and everything they own, but also their families and loved ones. Many can become displaced also. A huge percentage of the population became displaced after the 2004 boxing day tsunami and earthquake, totaling at 500 000 people.
The whole structure and way of life can be taken away as a result of these events as well, which takes time and money to fix.
The general health of the population is often hugely impacted after the event of a natural disaster for a number of reasons, including; diseases spread rapidly, many victims suffer from mental illnesses, such as anxiety and depression, many suffer malnutrition due to the lack of food supplies and other illnesses can result after drinking contaminated water.
The population density in Indonesia of 130 people per square km means not only are a huge number of people exposed to disasters, but also its difficult to find temporary housing for all survivors of disaster in remaining areas of land which have not been completely demolished or flooded.
Also, Indonesia is a developing country which disadvantages its abilities to cope and recover from disasters. Although, there is only 13% of the population living in poverty many others are quite poor as well, with an average food deficiency of 60 kilo-calories (60 000) per person per day, which is huge.
Although after the boxing day tsunami and earthquake in 2004, Indonesia received an extensive amount of help from charity organization from around the world, the significance of the event was huge, not only with the death toll and economy damage, as well as collateral damage, but also the event effect 12 other countries as well.
Another factor to consider is the amount of tourists from other countries that were present at the time of the event. If a comparison is made to other disasters around the world it can be noticed that many countries will get involved with these events when people from their own country are effected.
When the huge earthquake hit Hati, causing a similar death toll of 230 000, the country also received an extensive amount of help, despite the fact that event didn’t directly effect the other countries which came to their aid.
Some of the negative effects on the natural environment which result from these disasters include: coastline destruction, contamination of freshwater with saltwater and ruble, habitat destruction, pollution, loss of species in ecosystems due to displacement or death of species and destruction of reefs.
These issues lead to other issues which affect the society of Indonesia, as well as it's economy.
Earthquakes and the collateral damage which follow have a huge impact on the economy of Indonesia. Huge losses occur in the farming industry as following disasters such as, earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides and fires, crop and livestock can be destroyed, particularly in underlying areas. Huge losses are also caused in the fishing industry if the earthquake is followed by flooding or tsunami’s. Depending on the severity of the earthquake, many small businesses, factories and large industries can be destroyed, therefore not only causing the loss of income for people within Indonesia, but also the loss of trade with other countries as everything needs to be rebuilt before it can become functional again. Another huge impact on the economy is the cost of clean up after a disaster, as well as rebuilding of the infrastructure.
The livelihoods of the population is negatively affected as many people not only lose their source of income and everything they own, but also their families and loved ones. Many can become displaced also. A huge percentage of the population became displaced after the 2004 boxing day tsunami and earthquake, totaling at 500 000 people.
The whole structure and way of life can be taken away as a result of these events as well, which takes time and money to fix.
The general health of the population is often hugely impacted after the event of a natural disaster for a number of reasons, including; diseases spread rapidly, many victims suffer from mental illnesses, such as anxiety and depression, many suffer malnutrition due to the lack of food supplies and other illnesses can result after drinking contaminated water.
The population density in Indonesia of 130 people per square km means not only are a huge number of people exposed to disasters, but also its difficult to find temporary housing for all survivors of disaster in remaining areas of land which have not been completely demolished or flooded.
Also, Indonesia is a developing country which disadvantages its abilities to cope and recover from disasters. Although, there is only 13% of the population living in poverty many others are quite poor as well, with an average food deficiency of 60 kilo-calories (60 000) per person per day, which is huge.
Although after the boxing day tsunami and earthquake in 2004, Indonesia received an extensive amount of help from charity organization from around the world, the significance of the event was huge, not only with the death toll and economy damage, as well as collateral damage, but also the event effect 12 other countries as well.
Another factor to consider is the amount of tourists from other countries that were present at the time of the event. If a comparison is made to other disasters around the world it can be noticed that many countries will get involved with these events when people from their own country are effected.
When the huge earthquake hit Hati, causing a similar death toll of 230 000, the country also received an extensive amount of help, despite the fact that event didn’t directly effect the other countries which came to their aid.