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The 2004 Tsunami caused widespread devastation across the Indian Ocean, affecting the Maldives, Myanmar, Southeast Asia, and the African coast. The Maldives saw 82 deaths, while Myanmar reported 61. Somalia faced 289 fatalities, and the impact was severe in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand with massive casualties and displacement. The disaster's demographic impact was significant, with children and women being the most vulnerable groups.
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The low-lying islands of the Maldives made it particularly vulnerable to the tsunami's devastation
Confirmed deaths and missing persons
The Maldives suffered 82 confirmed deaths and 26 missing persons, while Myanmar reported 61 confirmed deaths and an estimated 600 fatalities
Impact on coastal regions
The Ayeyarwady Delta and other coastal regions in Myanmar were significantly affected due to lack of elevated areas for safe evacuation
The international community responded swiftly to provide aid and coordinate reconstruction efforts in the aftermath of the tsunami
Somalia reported 289 fatalities and extensive damage, with the town of Hafun suffering the highest death toll in Africa
Deaths and damage in neighboring countries
The tsunami's reach extended to Kenya, Seychelles, Tanzania, and South Africa, resulting in deaths and damage in these countries
Runup heights and inundation distances
The tsunami waves in Somalia reached heights of 5-9 meters and inundated distances of up to 704 meters
The tsunami's impact was felt along the entire African coastline, highlighting its extensive reach
Indonesia bore the brunt of the tsunami's devastation, with an estimated 130,736 deaths and widespread damage
Deaths and displacement in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka reported 35,322 confirmed deaths and over half a million people displaced due to the tsunami
Losses in India and Thailand
India reported 12,405 confirmed deaths and Thailand suffered 5,395 confirmed deaths and widespread damage to coastal regions
The disaster also affected foreign tourists, including a large number from Nordic countries, who were vacationing in the region during the holiday season
Children made up one-third of the victims, highlighting their vulnerability to the force of the tsunami
In some regions, female casualties were up to four times higher than male casualties, often due to their roles as caregivers and waiting for fishermen on the beaches
The disaster emphasized the need for disaster response and recovery planning to consider demographic vulnerabilities, in order to better protect at-risk groups in future emergencies