Death Toll

147326 Confirmed.
Source BBC

Facts

Earthquakes and hurricanes make headlines more often, but tsunamis are often deadlier. They mostly happen around the edges of the Pacific, set off by earthquakes and volcanoes. Ninety-five percent of the world's seismic activity happens in the Pacific, which is why Sunday's devastation around the Indian Ocean was such a surprise.

Current News From The BBC

 

 

Tsunami buoy laid in Indian ocean

The first of a planned network of tsunami early warning buoys is being installed in the Indian Ocean.

Indian Ocean warning system

Before the 2004 tsunami, the Indian Ocean did not have a system to warn people that a giant wave was on its way. One year on, what's changed?

Anniversary marked

Ceremonies are held to mark the first anniversary of the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami.

Politics and the tsunami

Paul Reynolds assesses the impact of the tsunami on civil conflicts in Sri Lanka and Indonesia, the two countries hardest hit by the disaster.

Fishermen struggle to cope

The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder finds Sri Lanka's fishing industry still in disarray a year after the tsunami.

Tourists flow into Andamans

A year after it was hit by the tsunami, the Andaman Islands finds favour with tourists again, reports Subir Bhaumik.

Foreigners help Thailand rebuild

More than 3,500 volunteers have helped the tsunami reconstruction effort in Thailand's Khao Lak this year, from more than 50 different countries.

Tsunami aid 'went to the richest'

The poorest tsunami victims have benefited the least from the international relief effort, a survey by Oxfam finds.

Thai resorts await tourists

Six months on from the tsunami, most Thai resorts have been repaired but it is taking longer for the tourists to return.

Doubts over Andaman aid

Ecological concerns are being raised in post-tsunami construction in the Andamans, reports Subir Bhaumik.

Aceh village still battling for water

The Acehnese community of Lampuuk is still reliant on daily deliveries of water, five months after the tsunami.

Sri Lanka's controversial deal

The BBC's Dumeetha Luthra on why it has taken so long for Sri Lanka's tsunami-aid deal to be signed.

Animated guide: The tsunami explained

How a massive earthquake in the Indian Ocean triggered sea surges and the deaths of thousands of people.

At-a-glance: Countries hit

A round-up of the death tolls and state of affairs in countries hit by the earthquake and tsunami on 26 December, 2004.

Tsunami: Anatomy of a disaster

A new BBC One programme, featuring the harrowing stories of survivors, gives a scientific account of the Asian tsunami disaster.

Maps: Trail of the disaster

Maps and satellite images of damage

Audio gallery: Tsunami disaster

The human impact of the tsunami disaster in sound and pictures.

Timeline: How events unfolded

A day-by-day account charting how the Asian tsunami disaster unfolded.

Logistics: Delivering the aid

Courtesy of The BBC

What Do We Need

From the Colin Powell visit.

Thai officials have said they need the assistance of technical experts rather than food aid or cash and Mr Powell said it was important to target the right sort of help where it was needed most.

"The financial need of Thailand is not as great as financial needs, say, in Indonesia or Sri Lanka... Forensic support, reconstruction support - that's the kind of support Thailand will need, and not direct financial assistance," Mr Powell said.

"We talked earlier about whether or not our reconnaissance planes could help them in analysing the mangrove area beyond the beach line, there may be many bodies located in these mangrove areas. Is there any way we can help with that?"

Mr Powell toured relief tents in Phuket, and looked at a bulletin board carrying photos of hundreds still missing.

A BBC correspondent in Thailand, Kylie Morris, says the secretary of state appeared slightly stunned by the devastation.

Mr Powell will later arrive in the Indonesian province of Aceh, before attending a summit on the crisis in Jakarta on Thursday.

Definitions

Tsunami : An ocean wave with a long period that is formed by an underwater earthquake or landslide, or volcanic eruption. It may travel unnoticed across the ocean for thousands of miles from its point of origin and builds up to great heights over shallower water. Also known as a seismic sea wave, and incorrectly, as a tidal wave.

• Google
• The Staffordshire Evening Sentinel
• Smiffys

What does your money buy?

75p: 10-litre jerry can for collecting and storing water
£5: full kitchen set for a displaced family
£15: clothes and shoes for a child who has lost everything
£35: enough food for a family for a week
£100: zinc sheeting and timber to rebuild two family homes
£400: a hand-held satellite phone for emergency teams to use
£1,750: a generator to provide electricity to an emergency camp
Source: Save The Children

What Will We Do

I’m sorry if this is a little vague right now but all we can say is, whatever it takes for as long as it takes to help put this right. We know this is going to be a long hard road but with your help we can make it better for 1,000,000s of people.

Video and Audio Media of the Disaster

Disaster Emergencies Committee

BBC Videos