Damage and Height Distribution of Sumatra Earthquake-Tsunami of December 26, 2004, in Banda Aceh City and its Environs

Abstract

A huge earthquake of magnitude M 9.0 occurred at 00:58 (UT), December 26, 2004, in the sea off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia, followed by a huge tsunami that hit almost all coasts facing the Indian Ocean. We conducted a field survey in the residential area of Banda Aceh, the town of the severest damage by the tsunami, on the west coast of the northernmost point Sumatra, Sigli City, about 80 kilometers east of Banda Aceh three-four weeks after the event. In Banda Aceh, almost all houses in the residential area about 2 km from the coast were swept away, while houses more than 3 km rarely were. Inundation continued about 5 to 6 km from the shoreline. In Lhoknga and several villages on the west coast of Sumatra Island near Banda Aceh, where tsunamis 15 to 30 meters high hit coastal villages, nobody survived. Along the valley about 1 km north of the cement plant, seawater rose to a height of 34.8 m above MSL, which is the highest recorded inundation measured in our survey.

Tsunami damage reduction performance of a mangrove forest in Banda Aceh, Indonesia inferred from field data and a numerical model

“…The tsunami inundated 4 km inland, causing human damage estimated at more than 70,000 in Banda Aceh [ JICA , 2005]. Tsunami heights above tide level when the tsunami attacked Banda Aceh around this area were estimated to have been approximately 3–12 m (Figure 1b) [ Borrero , 2005; Tsuji et al , 2006].…”

“…(a) The epicenter and rupture area of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami [ Chlieh et al , 2007]. (b) Map of study sites in Banda Aceh with measured tsunami height [ Borrero , 2005; Tsuji et al , 2006]. Satellite images of the coast of Banda Aceh (IKONOS) (c) before and (d) after the 2004 tsunami (18 June 2004 and 29 December 2004, respectively).…”

“…The computed arrival time, wave period and height of the tsunami were consistent with the observed waveform (Figure 4a). Figures 4b and 4c portray the measured tsunami heights [ Borrero , 2005; Tsuji et al , 2006] and the extent of the inundation zone [ JICA , 2005] versus the results from our numerical model. The model results are also consistent with measured data in terms of the tsunami height ( RSME = ±1.2, Figure 4b) and the extent of inundation zone (approximately 94% agreement).…”

Inventory of uncertainties associated with the process of tsunami damage assessment on buildings (SCHEMA FP6 EC co-funded project)

“…1), we notice important differences between them: while data by Borrero (2005a, b; squared symbols in Fig. 1) and Tsuji et al (2005;triangles in Fig. 1) are quite consistent, values from Tsunarisque (Lavigne et al, 2009; represented by stars in Fig.…”

“…These give the maximum vertical elevation of the flow and can be measured either with respect to the sea level on the day of the measurement or with respect to the ground level. If the height of the water marks is measured with respect to the sea level at the time of the measurement, a correction must be applied for tides in order to bring the measurement to the sea level at the time of the tsunami's occurrence or to the mean sea level (thus obtaining what is called by Tsuji et al, 2005, the "pure tsunami heights", i.e. the absolute water elevation above mean sea level).…”