What caused the 2004 Indian earthquake?
The earthquake was caused by a rupture along the fault between the Burma Plate and the Indian Plate. A series of massive tsunami waves grew up to 30 m (100 ft) high once heading inland, after being created by the underwater seismic activity offshore.
What happened in the 2004 earthquake?
On December 26, 2004, at 7:59 am local time, an undersea earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1 struck off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The tsunami killed at least 225,000 people across a dozen countries, with Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, and Thailand sustaining massive damage.
How fast did the 2004 tsunami travel?
500 mph
Fast facts: 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami The tsunami’s waves traveled across the Indian Ocean at 500 mph, the speed of a jet plane.
Do Tsunamis have names?
Tsunamis do not have names. Tsunamis have no names, at least not yet. Nor do earthquakes or floods. In fact, it might appear absurd to most people that natural disasters can even be given names.
What damage did the Indian Ocean earthquake cause?
Some smaller islands in the Indian Ocean were completely destroyed.
What year was Boxing Day tsunami?
The tsunami was called the Asian tsunami , or the Boxing Day tsunami in Australia, Canada, England, and South Africa because it happened on the 26th of December 2004 (Boxing Day).
How do earthquakes affect tsunamis?
Earthquakes trigger tsunamis when the seismic activity causes the land along fault lines to move up or down. When parts of the seafloor shift vertically, either becoming raised or lowered, entire water columns become displaced. This creates a “wave” of energy, which propels the water, according to Blakeman.