SUMATRA EARTHQUAKE OF DECEMBER 26,2004

The great Sumatra earthquake of 26^th December, 2004, rated as the world’s second largest recorded earthquake, after the Chilean earthquake of 1960 with its seismic moment (Mo) estimated as 1.0x10³⁰ dyn-cm at 3000 second (Mw:9.3) has caused unprecedented loss of life and damage to property in the Indian Ocean rim countries. According to official estimates, the death toll in India alone is put at 10,749 with the number of missing persons at 5640, of which 5554 are from Andaman & Nicobar islands, who are feared to be dead. This event has changed not only the hitherto held view that destructive Tsunamis are rare in this part of the World but also the threat perception, particularly to the Indian coasts.

The Great Sumatra earthquake (2004) was followed by an intense aftershock activity spreading over a length of about 1200 km and a width of about 200 km between 3-15 degree north latitude along the Andaman-Nicobar-Sumatra island arc region. The aftershocks are distributed northwards from the epicenter of the main shock, suggesting a uni-lateral rupture propagation.

Parameters:

Date: 26 December 2004

Origin line: 06 hrs.28 min. 51.1 sec. IST

Epicenter: Latitude 3.34° N, Longitude 96.13° E

Magnitude: 9.3 (Mw)

Focal Depth: 16.6 kms.

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Damage Photographs
Collapse of ground floor of a RC building at Bamboo Flat	Near total collapse of a two storied RC building at Kanyapuram
Damage in RC building, Nabagram	Collapse of east and west walls of RC building, near Aerial Bay