THE 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, also called the Boxing Day tsunami or the Sumatra–Andaman tsunami, is considered the worst natural disaster of the 21st century in terms of the destruction caused, countries affected and massive death toll. In total, more than 228,000 people died and thousands more went missing – their bodies never to be found again. The sudden nature of the earthquake and tsunami caught people unawares and the speed of the waves that rushed inland left little time for people to flee to safer areas. In total, 15 countries were affected by this natural disaster from Indonesia all the way to Tanzania leaving death and devastation all around them.
But in the midst of this horrible suffering and loss of life, stories of hope and compassion emerged. Strangers rushed toward the affected areas to help injured and stranded people and get them to safe shelters. Concerned citizens brought food, drinking water and medical supplies to help those in need of aid. From other parts of the world, medical and other professionals arrived in the affected countries to offer their services free of cost. It seemed as if the planet too, played its role in mitigating the effects of the devastating tsunami. It was observed in different countries that mangrove forests slowed or stopped the rapid flow of water onto the land, saving the lives of hundreds of people.
7:59 am on Boxing Day
On December 26th, also known as Boxing Day, an underwater earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia near an island called Sumatra. The earthquake measured 9.1 on the Richter Scale, which is classified as ‘very severe’ and is one level less than the most dangerous level of ‘extreme’. This level causes immense destruction and loss of life and this is exactly what happened when the earthquake hit. Underneath the crust of the planet, two tectonic plates converged. The Indo-Australian plate moved underneath the Eurasian plate, moving the latter upward. This phenomenon is known as a megathrust which leads to tsunamis. This raised the sea level so high (by a few meters) that left a mass amount of water displaced, leading to the tsunami.
Two hours after this earthquake, massive walls of water rose that traveled as far as Tanzania on the African continent. In the Aceh province of Indonesia, closest to the earthquake, the waves were as high as 80 feet and caused panic and immense destruction. The waves which hit India rose as high as 30 feet and immediately began flooding the land with water at high speeds up to 16 feet inland which left people unable to flee to safer or more elevated areas. The communities most affected were the fishing communities living along the eastern coast of India. Their boats and homes were washed away in an instant and multitudes died, suffered debilitating injuries or went missing, never to be found again.
Did mangrove trees halt the tsunami’s flooding?
In this devastating scenario, another phenomenon was observed in the Pichavaram mangrove forests in Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu. The Pichavaram mangrove forest is the second largest in the world and played a key role in protecting the land and its people from oncoming floodwaters of the Indian Ocean tsunami. But first, a little about trees. Trees are known to be the first line of defense against natural disasters such as landslides and floods. In addition to removing pollutants from the environment, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, trees also absorb and store water. It can be seen in deforested areas across India and the world that natural disasters such as fires and floods are on the rise.
How do mangrove trees stop natural disasters?
Mangrove trees mainly grow along coastal regions and in saltwater. These trees are able to remove salt and sediment, making them more formidable than other vegetation and can live in harsh conditions. When tsunamis occur, mangrove forests act as a first line of defense against the oncoming waters. It was researched and found that mangrove forests can reduce the height of tsunami waves by five to 35 percent. In Cuddalore District, the Pichavaram mangrove forest slowed down the speed of the oncoming tsunami waves. Between 100 and 1,000 meters from the coast, there were small hamlets and settlements of around 1,700 people who were protected from the worst of the tsunami, thanks to the mangrove forest.
Investing in nature
Earthquakes and tsunamis cannot be prevented. These are natural phenomena that are not manmade, to a large extent. But there are measures that can be taken to reduce the devastation that happens as a result of these natural disasters. For example, countries can invest in early warning systems, educating people on spotting the signs of oncoming disasters and – the protection and preservation of mangrove forests to reduce the impact of extreme weather conditions and natural disasters. With increasing urbanization and encroachment onto green belts, communities around the world are seeing an increase in natural disasters. But our response can change that and protect the planet and its people.
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Shirley has been in the development sector for over 10 years and is passionate about making a change in the world around her, including adopting dogs and writing to make a difference.
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