Survey Results of the Indian Ocean Tsunami in the Maldives

Fujima, Koji; Shigihara, Yoshinori; Tomita, Takashi; Honda, Katsuhiro; Nobuoka, Hisamichi; Hanzawa, Minoru; Fujii, H.; Ohtani, Hideo; Orishimo, Sadao; Tatsumi, Masahiro; Koshimura, Shunichi

doi:10.1142/s0578563406001337

Cited by 30 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The higher run-up heights were observed on the eastern islands of the southern atolls. These data agree with the distribution of disaster status presented in Table 1 and Figure 2, and also coincides with the run-up heights observed by Fujima et al (2005Fujima et al ( , 2006.…”

Section: Southern Atollssupporting

confidence: 91%

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in the Maldives: scale of the disaster and topographic effects on atoll reefs and islands

Kan¹,

Ali²,

Riyaz³

2007

Atoll Research Bulletin

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Following the tsunami caused by the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake of 26 December 2004, the Republic of Maldives reported 82 confirmed deaths, 26 people missing and more than 3,997 incidents of house/building damage. Such an experience suggests that all atoll nations/districts in the Pacific and Indian Oceans face a potential risk of severe tsunami-induced damage, and an understanding of what occurred may help us to form a basis for recognizing the safer areas of land on atoll islands.To this end, we investigated 43 islands in the northern-to-southern Maldives by measuring watermarks and profiles across the islands, and interviewing local residents to determine the characteristics of the tsunami and evacuation procedures.The movement and influence of the tsunami varied by atoll and island topography. In the northern Maldives where the atoll rims consist of numerous faroes and are interrupted by many channels, the tsunami entered the lagoons through these channels and appeared to set-up the lagoon water level. The backwash of the lagoon water to the open ocean caused inundation of the lagoon-side villages on islands at the eastern atoll rim. Beach ridges developed on the eastern side of these islands acted as breakwaters against the tsunami from the east. In contrast, catastrophic damage and high run-up levels of 3.6 m above Mean Sea Level (MSL) at maximum water depth occurred on the eastern islands in atolls with a continuous atoll rim in the southern Maldives. Damage on the western atoll rims and in the lagoons was relatively small. The continuous eastern atoll rim and its islands acted as a breakwater against the tsunami from the east. The eastern islands in atolls in the central Maldives where the atoll rim is moderately interrupted by channels were hit by both the direct surge from the east and floodwater from the lagoon. Less damage was reported from the far southern atolls where major channels cut across the atoll chain.The movement of the tsunami in atolls thus differed according to the distribution of the atolls in the archipelago and the continuity of atoll rims against the incoming direction of the tsunami. The disaster status on individual islands also differed according ______________________________________________________________________

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Section: Southern Atollssupporting

confidence: 91%

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in the Maldives: scale of the disaster and topographic effects on atoll reefs and islands

Kan¹,

Ali²,

Riyaz³

2007

Atoll Research Bulletin

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“…The relatively low water level is interpreted by the wave amplitude damping caused by the coral reef situated to the east of the island complex as well as to that the tsunami did not arrived at high tide time. According to Fujima et al (2005), particularly in Malé the seawall protected the city from worst tsunami impact.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The large tsunami of 26 December 2004: Field observations and eyewitnesses accounts from Sri Lanka, Maldives Is. and Thailand

et al. 2006

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Post-event field surveys were conducted and measurements were taken in Sri Lanka and Maldives about two weeks after the catastrophic Indian Ocean tsunami of 26 December 2004. The measurements taken were cross-checked after interviewing with local people. In the southwest, south and east coastal zones of Sri Lanka maximum water levels ranging from h = 3 m to h = 11 m a.m.s.l. were estimated. The highest values observed were in the south of the island: Galle h ∼ 10 m, Hambantota h ∼ 11 m. Maximum inundation of d ∼ 2 km was observed in Hambantota. The heavy destruction and thousands of victims caused in coastal communities, buildings and infrastructure, like railways and bridges, is attributed not only to physical parameters, like the strength of the tsunami hydrodynamic flow, coastal geomorphology and the wave erosional action in soil, but also to anthropogenic factors including the increased vulnerability of the non-RC buildings and the high population density. Local people usually described the tsunami as a series of three main waves. The leading wave phase was only a silent sea level rise of h ≤ 1.5 m and d ≤ 150 m, while the second wave was the strongest one. The first two waves occurred between 09:00 and 09:30 local time, depending on the locality. It is well documented that near Galle, southern part, the strong wave arrived at 09:25:30. In the west coast the third wave was a late arrival which possibly represents reflection phases. In Maldives, three waves were also reported to arrive between 09:00 and 09:30 local time. Maximum water level was only h ∼ 3 m in Laamu Atoll, which is interpreted by the wave amplitude damping by the coral reef to the east of the island complex as well as to that the tsunami did not arrived at high tide time. Damage was observed in several islands of Maldives but this was minimal as compared to the heavy destruction observed in Sri Lanka. About 25 Greek eyewitnesses, who happened to experience the tsunami attack in Padong and Blue Lagoon Port of Phuket island as well as in Maya Bay, Phi-Phi islands, Thailand, were interviewed on the basis of a standard questionnaire. The first sea motion was a retreat of at least 100 m. Then, two main waves arrived, the first being the strong one occurring at about 09:55-10:05 local time, with h ∼ 6 m in Padong causing significant destruction and human victims. The collected information clearly indicates that the tsunami propagated as the leading crest wave to the west side, e.g. in Sri Lanka and Maldives, and as the leading trough wave to the east, e.g. in Thailand.

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“…2). inundation height was recorded as 3.2 and 2.6 m on the eastern and western sides, respectively [Fujima et al, 2006]. A total of 3444 people of the island were evacuated to six islands: Alifushi, Hulhudhuffaaru, Meedhoo, Maduvvari, and Ungoofaaru islands of Raa atoll, as well as Hulhumale Island in North Male' atoll.…”

Section: Location and General Setting Of Kandholhudhoo And Dhuvaafarumentioning

confidence: 99%

"Safer Island Concept" Developed After the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami: A Case Study of Maldives

Riyaz

Park

2010

J. Earthquake and Tsunami

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This study deals with the "safer island concept" implemented for the reconstruction and rehabilitation works after the 26 December 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami in the Maldives. The safer island concept has been developed as an important adaptation strategy for tsunamis as well as the sea-level rise due to climate change. Reconstruction work in Dhuvaafaru Island to rehabilitate the entire population of Kandholhudhoo Island of Raa atoll is chosen as a case study. The appropriateness of the functionality of the redesigned island to provide security and safety for the island communities is evaluated using the digital elevation model.The study results show that the design enhanced mitigation measures of the island might show some resilience for less frequent natural disasters such as smaller tsunamis, while the implementation of the concept may create greater vulnerability for more frequent disasters, such as flash floods and storms. An integrated approach with appropriate risk assessment of floods, storms, and other physical aspects of the island is recommended for the future development of the safer island concept.

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Survey Results of the Indian Ocean Tsunami in the Maldives

Cited by 30 publications

References 3 publications

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in the Maldives: scale of the disaster and topographic effects on atoll reefs and islands

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in the Maldives: scale of the disaster and topographic effects on atoll reefs and islands

The large tsunami of 26 December 2004: Field observations and eyewitnesses accounts from Sri Lanka, Maldives Is. and Thailand

"Safer Island Concept" Developed After the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami: A Case Study of Maldives

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