Tsunami Disaster - Mechanics and Research Innovations

The recent Asian Tsunami Disaster has affected the lives of millions of people around the region combined with a shocking death toll of over 280,000 inhabitants. The United Nations (UN) had to mobilize the world s largest relief operation spanning several countries bordering the Indian Ocean. The destruction arising from the recent tsunami incident is phenomenal. An extensive knowledge database on the mechanics of tsunami formation and its destructive impact need to be reinforced to assist in more confident forecasting and systematic mitigation planning. This paper concisely describes the causes of tsunamis, with particular reference to the recent 2004 Asian Tsunami and the innovative research carried out worldwide with the aim to minimize the risks in the loss of lives and property probably in future occurrences.