Survey Results of the Indian Ocean Tsunami in the Maldives

The Indian Ocean Tsunami occurred on 26 December 2004, causing serious damage in the Maldives, which is 2,000 km distant from the epicenter. A post-tsunami survey was carried out from 31 January to 4 February 2005. Tsunami height distribution, tsunami behavior in atoll and characteristics of tsunami disaster in atoll island were discussed through survey results. The height of tsunami traces in the Maldives ranged from 0.6 to 3.4 m. The trace height was not small even where there was a developed reef and even at island inside an atoll. The tsunami behavior appeared to be complex in an atoll. Several minutes were necessary for tsunami inflow to an atoll. Inertial force was small in the run-up process in some islands, but was not so in some islands. Because the Maldives consists of low-lying islands, a solid structure and artificial ground is required to improve the safety level of the Maldives.