INDIAN OCEAN TSUNAMI - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS IN MALAYSIA

1. INDIAN OCEAN TSUNAMI - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS IN MALAYSIA Ben Horton1, Michael Bird2, Susan Cowie2, Jin Eong3 , Andrea Hawkes1 Aileen Tan Shaw Hwai3 , Gong Wooi Khoon3 , Colin Macgregor2, Teh Tiong Sa4 & Zulfigar Yasin3 1 University of Pennsylvania, USA (email: bphorton@sas.upenn.edu); 2 University of St Andrews, UK; 3Universiti Sains Malaysia; 4Nayang Technological University, Singapore 1. Introduction In May and June 2005 a multinational, interdisciplinary team of scientists and social scientists used a suite of research methods drawn from both the natural and social sciences to elucidate the immediate pre- and post-tsunami trajectory of events and impacts associated with the 2004 tsunami catastrophe in the Indian Ocean. The research was of severe urgency with regard to the unique, available, accessible, but perishable physical and social data, which was being rapidly lost due to post-depositional change, fading memories of the tsunami and post-tsunami reconstruction. 3. To conduct interviews to determine the impact of the tsunami on human actions, public services, casualties and injuries, emergency management agencies and the degree of effectiveness of the institutional response, informal communication networks and cultural practices; Plate 3 Interview with individuals impacted by the 2004 Tsunami, Tanjung Tokong, Penang 1b 1c 1a 4. To assess the implications of the identified environmental changes for local livelihood status; 5. Review the understanding of local authorities and populations and how they are responding to the challenges and, possibly, opportunities offered by catastrophic environmental change. 4a 6a 5a Plate 1(a) Langkawi, the second tsunami wave approaching Kuala Teriang (26/12/2004, 12.45pm); (b & c) Tanjung Tokong, Penang, the second wave hitting terrace elevated 2.5m above general ground level (26/12/2004, 1.03pm) 2. Study areas We selected specific sites with different physiographic conditions and varying nature and scale of social and physical impacts from the 2004 tsunami, along the west coast of the Malaysia. This site selection was informed by the need to develop an integrated social science survey which covers the range of populations and activities with which we are interested (tourism, local populations, aquaculture activities and industry (Fig. 1). We also recognize that major tsunamis significantly impact many areas beyond those that are ‘catastrophically’ affected. The responses and needs in these areas may be different, but understanding what happened and why is no less important: 5b 6b 4b Plate 4 Kuala Teriang, Langkawi (a) river still full of retreating tsunami waters, with the bridge damaged (26/12/2004, 1.43pm) and (b) construction and new bridge (19/5/2005, 12.03pm); Plate 5 Photo at Tanjung Tokong, Penang (a) fishing boat in the middle of the road (26/12/2004, unknown time) and (b) main road (14/5/2005, 12.11pm); and Plate 6 Kuala Sungai Buring, Penang of the fishermen’s shelter (a) with a boat in a tree (26/12/2004, unknown time) and (b) rebuilt fishermen’s shelter (14/5/2005, 9.43am) 3. Research Objectives 1. To make measurements of (a) land elevation, 2004 tsunami flow depth, number and direction, and (b) sediment deposit character and thickness, from field sites along west coast of Malaysia; 2b 2a 2c 6. To construct and interpret trajectories of environmental change in the area over the recent past (annual, decadal, century timescales). This will encompass the analysis of the stratigraphic sequences complemented by qualitative techniques to access local people’s knowledge of environmental change; 7a 7b Plate 2(a & b) Measuring land elevation and tsunami flow depth (b) core of tsunami deposit, Sungai Burung, Penang 2. Obtain further information on tsunami characteristics and precursor ‘warning signs’ (ocean run-out; numbers and spacing of waves; animal behaviors; sound) from ‘eye witness interviews’; Funding for the research came from NSF’s Human and Social Dynamics priority area, the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation Program in the Engineering Directorate, and from the Office of International Science and Engineering Plate 7(a) ‘Freshwater’ and (b) ‘marine’ stratigraphic units from Lake of the Pregnant Lady, Langkawi