Last updated on Jun 09, 2026

Case Study → 2010 Indian Ocean Tsunami (Edexcel A-Level Geography): Revision Notes

📚 Revision Notes

Case Study \to 2010 Indian Ocean Tsunami Aspect Details Context • 14 countries surrounding the Indian Ocean were affected • Major economic losses and a high number of deaths in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Somalia, among others, making this one of the largest disasters in terms of areal extent • Magnitude: 9.0 earthquake • Fault line: 900 miles long Vulnerability Inequality • High levels of vulnerability due to inadequate preparedness and low education levels in affected regions Governance • Weak disaster response; poor disaster preparedness and limited technology to cope with the tsunami Geographical Factors • Very destructive fault line • Warnings were either inadequate or delayed | Impacts | Social • 250,000 deaths • Cholera outbreaks • Food supply shortages Economic • $9.4 billion in damage • Fishing industry devastated in Sri Lanka • Tourism industry collapsed Environmental • Smaller islands completely destroyed • Widespread pollution and debris posed significant hazards to ecosystems and public health |

Aspect	Details
Context	• 14 countries surrounding the Indian Ocean were affected • Major economic losses and a high number of deaths in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Somalia, among others, making this one of the largest disasters in terms of areal extent • Magnitude: 9.0 earthquake • Fault line: 900 miles long
Vulnerability	Inequality • High levels of vulnerability due to inadequate preparedness and low education levels in affected regions Governance • Weak disaster response; poor disaster preparedness and limited technology to cope with the tsunami Geographical Factors • Very destructive fault line • Warnings were either inadequate or delayed

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