InTeGrate Modules and Courses >Coastal Processes, Hazards and Society > Student Materials > Dimension 3: Adaptive capacity > Case Studies > 2004 Asian Tsunami
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These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
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Initial Publication Date: December 7, 2016

2004 Asian Tsunami

On December 26, 2004, while many westerners vacationed on South Asian beaches during the Christmas holidays, an earthquake with an epicenter in the Indian Ocean struck with an estimated magnitude greater than 9.0. This earthquake generated enormous tsunami around the Indian Ocean, heavily affecting the coastal zones of many countries including Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, the Maldives, and Somalia. More than 230,000 people lost their lives, including many westerners.

Although earthquakes and tsunami are natural events, human factors contributed to the losses from the hazard. One factor was the economic development of South Asian coasts, including tourist developments and shrimp farms, which reduced or eliminated coral reefs and mangroves that otherwise might have diminished the intensity and inland reach of the tsunami. This development limited local livelihood options to tourism-related or fishery-related jobs, instead of traditional, diversified livelihood strategies. Consequently, it has been harder for local people to recover from the tsunami because of damages to tourism industries and export fisheries and the lack of other livelihood options.

Despite the widespread damage, some communities suffered less or recovered more quickly because they possessed higher adaptive capacities to this hazard event. One study found that fishing communities on Simeulue Island, Indonesia, and Surin Island, Thailand had fewer losses from the tsunami because they possessed traditional knowledge of tsunamis and had institutions in place that helped them prepare for and respond to the disaster.

Around the Indian Ocean basin, there were no early warning systems when the tsunami struck. In response to the disaster, governments almost immediately collaborated to develop the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System to reduce exposure to tsunami.


These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
Explore the Collection »