At 0:59 GMT on 26 December
2004, the India tectonic plate slid
underneath its neighbour, raising
it by about 10 metres. The earthquake
caused a powerful tsunami that devastated
coastlines around the Indian Ocean.
Entire towns were wiped from the map,
almost 300,000 people were killed,
and millions have been left in urgent
need of food and shelter. As the full
horror sinks in, Nature news
tackles the inevitable questions.
Why was there no warning? Where should
aid be directed? And can we stop such
a tragedy from happening again?
INTERACTIVE GRAPHIC Indian
Ocean tsunami
A guide to the coutries hit by the wave, how it formed
and a timeline of its travels.
Aftershocks
rock ravaged region Experts rush to calm
fears that later quakes could exacerbate Asian disaster. 31 December 2004
Earthquake
disaster: how to help Five million people
in the area affected by the tsunami are thought
to be in desperate need of aid. Nature news
explains who is doing what to help, and how you
can donate. 30 December 2004
FEATURE On
the trail of destruction Quirin Schiermeier
travels to Sri Lanka with a team of scientists in
the wake of last month's tsunami. Together with
locals they search through the damage for clues
of where the wave hit hardest. Nature 26 January 2005
FEATURE Get
off the beach — now! Seismologist Chris
Chapman was in Sri Lanka on 26 December when an
earthquake shook the ocean. He tells Nature how
he survived the resulting tsunami. Nature 26 January 2005
Data
sharing for disasters Last month's tsunami
and its aftermath have highlighted a need for more
science — and more effective sharing of data. Nature 26 January 2005
After the tsunami - a diary from Sri Lanka
In the aftermath of one of the deadliest natural
disasters in decades, Quirin Schiermeier travels
to Sri Lanka with a team of scientists to see how
the area was affected. He reports back with details
of their investigations, and impressions of life
today in one of the countries hit hardest by the
wave. 13 January 2005
A
divided world The lack of preparation
for last month's tsunami illustrates shocking disparities
in how science is applied in different regions of
the world. The global response to the disaster offers
a glimmer of hope that these disparities will be
addressed. Nature 5 January 2005
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