The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake at 8.9 in magnitude. It was the world's fifth largest since 1900 and the largest since a 9.2 quake hit Prince William Sound Alaska in 1964.
Seismograph reading on a computer terminal from Sunday morning's big earthquake in Aceh, northern Sumatra, December 26, 2004. The 8.9 magnitude earthquake that shook southern Asia on Sunday was one of the most powerful since the start of the 20th century, the U.S. Geological Survey .
It was Asia's most powerful earthquake in 40 years. The big earthquake triggered massive tsunami waves that swept villages and seaside resorts across Asian countries of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malayasia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand and India on Sunday, killing more than 3,000 people in five countries. Homes and cars were swept away by walls of water up to few meters high trigered by massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake, centered near the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Earthquake measured 8.1 on the Richter Scale in the republic of Singapore.
The epicentre of the big earthquake was located off the coast of western Sumatra at latitude 3.4 north and 9.5 east. Electricity and telephone networks in parts of the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, were knocked out and dozens of buildings and shops collapsed.The ground was shaking for a long time.
The U.S. Geological Survey recorded a magnitude 8.9 earthquake off the west coast of Northern Sumatra, 1,620 kilometers northwest of Jakarta.
Indonesia, a country of more than 18,000 islands, is prone to seismic upheaval because of its location on the margins of three tectonic plates that make up the "Ring of Fire'' around the Pacific Ocean basin.
Lying at the collision point of three tectonic plates results in frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions as pressure between the massive segments of the Earth's crust is released.
There are at least 2500 deaths in Tamil Nadu, India. There are requests from the Tamil Nadu government for helicopters to drop food. In Sri Lanka 3500 deaths were reported. About 300 prisoners escaped with the tidal waters, sweeping across coastal towns. Maximum casualties took place at Andaman/ Nicober islands, located
east of indian main land, 75 % of the islands of Car Nicober were affected. All communication links with main land were disrupted. |
