Indian Ocean tsunamis: environmental and socio-economic impacts in Langkawi, Malaysia

Bird, Michael, Cowie, Susan, Hawkes, Andrea, Horton, Ben, MacGregor, Colin, Ong, Jin Eong, Hwai, Aileen Tan Shau, Sa, Teh Tiong, and Yasin, Zulfigar (2007) Indian Ocean tsunamis: environmental and socio-economic impacts in Langkawi, Malaysia. Geographical Journal, 173 (2). pp. 103-117.

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Abstract

We report the results of a study of the physical characteristics and socio-economic impacts of the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 26 December 2004 on the tourist island of Langkawi, Malaysia. In comparison with many other locations struck by the tsunami, the immediate physical and socio-economic impacts in Langkawi were relatively minor. A detailed survey of the watermark and ground elevations was undertaken in the worst affected area between Sungei Kuala Teriang and Sungei Kuala Melaka. Here, the tsunami reached a maximum elevation of 4.29 m as it crossed the coast, with a maximum flow depth of 2.0 m and a very consistent run-up elevation relative to mean sea level of 300 ± 10 cm. The tsunami inundated inshore areas for 300 m and penetrated inland along creeks for 500–1000 m. Structural damage to buildings was confined to within 50–150 m of the shoreline where about 10% of the houses were completely destroyed and 60–70% suffered significant structural damage. Damage was particularly severe in areas where there was no engineered coastal protection, but while coastal revetments did provide enhanced protection for houses at the waterfront, the coastline in the study area appeared to be more heavily impacted than elsewhere in Langkawi because wave energy was focused on the area by offshore breakwaters built to protect the Langkawi port and airport. Emergency response after the tsunami was rapid and efficient but would have been improved if the local police station had not been rendered inoperative by the first wave, and if a mechanism had been in place to ensure that informal advance warnings transmitted between Phuket (Thailand), Langkawi and Penang (Malaysia) by tourist operators could have been more widely disseminated.

Item ID: 18919
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1475-4959
Keywords: Malaysia, Langkawi, tsunami, mangrove, tourism, emergency response, relief, reduction of vulnerability
Date Deposited: 03 Oct 2011 05:53
FoR Codes: 04 EARTH SCIENCES > 0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience > 040604 Natural Hazards @ 100%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9610 Natural Hazards > 961002 Natural Hazards in Coastal and Estuarine Environments @ 100%
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