The country of Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), located 31 miles off the south-eastern coast of India, was hit by a tsunami triggered by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Sumatra on December 26, 2004. The tsunami was one of the worst disasters ever recorded in Sri Lankan history. The tsunami left tens of thousands dead, many more homeless, and caused widespread chaos throughout the island. In addition to the human impacts, the tsunami had widespread effects on Sri Lanka's environment and ecosystems. It is still too early to express the long-term effects caused by the tsunami, but short-term effects are clearly evident.
Human Impacts
Civilian casualties in Sri Lanka were second only to those in Indonesia (see Indonesia). Reports vary on the number of deaths since many people are still missing and the country lacks adequate communications. As of March 1, 2005, estimates state that 36,603 people perished in the months following the tsunami. Another 800,000 people living on the coasts of Sri Lanka have been directly affected. The eastern shores of Sri Lanka faced the hardest impact since they were facing the epicenter of the earthquake. The southwestern shores were hit later, but the death toll was just as severe. The southwestern shores are a hotspot for tourists as well as the fishing economy. Tourism and fishing industries created high population densities along the coast.
The coastal lifestyle of people in Sri Lanka contributed to the high death tolls. The following images illustrate the correlation between population, affected areas, and mortality rates. In addition to the high number of fatalities, approximately 90,000 buildings were destroyed. Houses were easily destroyed since they were built mostly from wood. This wooden debris that was left behind is now raising issues of its own.
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