Six years after 2004 tsunami:

Indian Ocean countries more prepared now

By Pramod DE SILVA

As the golden sun set on the distant horizon, waves gently lapped at my feet. It was a tranquil setting on a secluded beach at Nilaveli, Trincomalee. The sea looked calm, motionless almost. Can life always be this serene?

A tsunami buoy being deployed

A tsunami warning tower

One could hardly imagine this as the very same ocean that unleashed its fury in the form of massive waves exactly six years ago. Way back then, not many people even knew the term 'tsunami', which is Japanese for 'massive wave'. In fact, in our collective conscience, a tsunami was something that hit the distant shores of Japan and Hawaii, not our lands in the Indian Ocean.

How wrong could one be? The Indian Ocean tsunami of December 26, 2004 was one of the biggest tsunamis ever in history. To be exact, it was one of the biggest natural disasters ever. Nearly 40,000 people in coastal areas around Sri Lanka perished and 550,000 were rendered homeless by the tsunami, caused by a gigantic 9.3 undersea earthquake off the island of Sumatra, Indonesia.

Sri Lanka, of course, was only one of the 14 countries affected - Indonesia saw the largest number of casualties in Aceh and elsewhere, while Thailand and India also suffered loss of lives and property as 30-metre high waves pounded the coastlines. Several countries in Africa such as Somalia were also hit as the tsunami fanned out and dissipated. The final (Indian Ocean-wide) death toll was well over 230,000.

Collective memory

The word 'tsunami' is now deeply embedded in our collective memory, along with its sheer ferocity and tragic consequences.

It would not be incorrect to say that coastal residents still live in fear of another tsunami. It's always there, in the deep recesses of their minds. The word has also left its mark in the lexicon - we now hear of words such as 'economic tsunami' and 'political tsunami'.

Such a large-scale disaster happened because the Indian Ocean countries were totally unprepared for a tsunami. There was, in fact, a gap of a few hours between the undersea eruption and the impact of waves on shore, but no one heeded the warnings issued by the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii. The result was that countries such as Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and India practically woke up to a tsunami.

Coastal residents (and tourists) were taken by surprise as the waves hit the shore. Most of the victims were women and children, who could not run as fast as adult males.

The initial response was chaotic to say the least - the authorities and residents were equally dumbfounded and inactive. Only when the full horror of the cataclysm unfolded did they spring into action. But it was too late for more than 200,000 people and their families.

Map depicting the tsunami's impact

It was a human tragedy on an unprecedented scale. Whole families were wiped out. Many children lost their parents and vice versa. Millions of houses were reduced to rubble, leaving the occupants who survived the onslaught of waves only with the clothes they were wearing. Six years later, the scars of the tsunami, physical and mental, still remain.

It was undoubtedly a tragedy of the highest proportions, but it was also a lesson for humanity. Here in Sri Lanka, we were moved by the massive outpouring of sympathy for the victims regardless of ethnic and religious divisions. It was a moment that symbolised the strong bonds of friendship and unity among all communities. All political parties forgot their differences and joined hands to rebuild the country.

The tragedy also triggered an outpouring of shock and grief all over the world and aid started flowing very quickly. It was an unprecedented humanitarian response both within the affected countries and internationally. More than US$ 14 billion was pledged for recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the affected countries.

Indian Ocean countries have made it a point to 'build back better' after the devastation of the 2004 tsunami. Coastal communities have sprung back to life as governments have tried their best to rehabilitate their shattered lives and rebuild their homes, schools, hospitals and places of worship. Fishery communities, among the worst affected, are now back at sea with better boats and equipment.

For example, the UN said last week that Indonesia's Aceh province has made a "remarkable" recovery after the devastating 2004 tsunami, but many serious challenges remain. A UN Development Program report said rebuilding had been impressive in Aceh. Sri Lanka's rebuilding efforts have been similarly praised by the international community.

The question is, when will another tsunami strike the region? There have been frequent earthquakes in the Sumatra fault line over the last six years and minor tsunamis as well. It is only a question of time before a mega quake or tsunami hits the region.

But we cannot predict the next big one - it can be tomorrow, next year or in 2050. The best approach is to be prepared for any eventuality.

All countries have marked tsunami escape routes

This is where it gets complicated, as earthquakes cannot be predicted with any accuracy. But the damage they cause can be controlled if action is taken to immediately notify residents. This is the challenge facing Indian Ocean countries.

Wake-up call

The 2004 tsunami was thus a wake-up call to Indian Ocean countries. Six years on, they are clearly more prepared to face a tsunami. The region is now covered by the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System built with UNESCO and German help. Twenty-six national tsunami information centres, capable of receiving and distributing tsunami advisories round-the-clock have been set up in Indian Ocean countries.

The seismographic network has been improved, with 25 new stations being deployed and linked in real-time to analysis centres. The system basically employs high-technology deep sea buoys to pinpoint the depth and strength of movements on the seabed. The system is also in touch with the tsunami warning centres in Hawaii and Japan, which makes it a worldwide warning mechanism.

There are also Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) sensors. Important additional equipment including instruments such as deep-sea pressure sensors and satellites are also available. Individual countries are also taking their own steps - Thailand recently deployed additional tsunami-detecting buoys off Phuket.

Any information on a tsunami is relayed by tsunami warning towers equipped with high decibel sirens. Moreover, mobile operators have agreed to send warnings by text, while radio and television stations will also update the tsunami status every minute. This should provide ample time for residents to leave the coast for higher ground and for authorities to take any other necessary measures.

All countries have marked tsunami escape routes in coastal areas and regularly conduct tsunami drills. Thailand and Sri Lanka conducted tsunami drills last week. Sri Lanka also observes the National Safety Day every year on December 26. This year's event will be held today in Jaffna. Two minutes' silence will be observed in remembrance of those who perished in the disaster. The people of the Maldives will also step onto the streets at the same time on Sunday to remember the devastating tsunami that struck several Indian Ocean nations six years ago. Maldives also marks the event as National Unity Day.

Coastal communities

Involving coastal communities in these endeavours is crucial. In a report commissioned by the five countries hit hardest by the disaster (Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, India and the Maldives) and presented to the United Nations, it was recommended that involving local communities in the recovery process is as instrumental as installing high-tech early warning systems. The report also highlighted the need for governments to incorporate disaster-risk reduction measures in national development plans.

Tsunami waves hitting Kalutara beach

There are other lessons as well. Many countries including Sri Lanka now limit constructions near beaches. Enhanced efforts are under way for coast conservation. Countries which have protected their mangroves, such as Bangladesh, suffered remarkably minor damage. Hundreds of thousands of hectares of mangroves - many of which had been cleared for shrimp and fish farms - were replanted in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand after experts said they could have provided a barrier to slow down the waves.

Yet, the final hurdle will be very difficult to overcome. While the physical rubble has long been cleared, the emotional debris is likely to remain. Effacing these memories will be the biggest challenge of all. Coastal dwellers will continue to fear the sea, on which most of them depend for a livelihood.

The loss of loved ones cannot be effaced from the minds of survivors, even if they have got brand new houses and other comforts. It will be a tragedy they want to forget, but simply cannot.

As a nation and a region, we cannot ever forget the massive destruction caused by the tsunami. It is also impossible to forget its emotional fallout. Nevertheless, it is prudent to learn vital lessons from the Indian Ocean Boxing Day tsunami to face any such natural disaster in the future.

Nature is unpredictable, but we could evolve swift and effective responses to natural calamities to minimise the disastrous effects on life and property.