Sri Lanka Lifelines after the December 2004 Great Sumatra Earthquake and Tsunami

Abstract

The water supply and transportation lifeline systems near the coastline of Sri Lanka were the most heavily affected by the December 2004 Great Sumatra earthquake and tsunami. The fishing and tourist industries were devastated; many fishing harbors were heavily damaged. Dozens of bridges in the highway and railroad system were damaged, primarily by erosion and scour. Portions of coastal road were washed away. However, most of the above-grade infrastructure components such as electrical distribution systems, water supply systems, communications systems, and bridges were inland and thus were not affected. Quickly distributing potable water to the affected areas was a challenge. International emergency responders provided portable, then permanent, water treatment facilities. An estimated 60,000 wells were inundated, 12,000 of which will require cleaning. Wells were being restored by pumping out the saltwater. Restoration was limited by the availability of equipment, labor, and supplies of critical resources. Sand for concrete to construct schools, hospitals, and housing was in very limited supply.

Water supply emergency preparedness and response in health care facilities: A systematic review on international evidence

“…Regardless of the type of emergency, e.g., earthquakes, or chemical spills, the most common and first hospital response was the provision of drinking water using bottled of water ( 17 , 21 , 22 , 27 , 31 , 41 ). All studies, except one conducted in Sri Lanka, reported on disasters that happened in the United States.…”

“…Case reports following natural hazard-induced disasters in Japan and Sri Lanka described the use of in-situ back-up water storage tanks previously installed as part of disaster preparedness measures in the affected health care facilities ( 17 , 34 , 35 , 39 , 47 ). Complementary or alternatively, tanker trucks were also reported as a common emergency external source to supply health care facilities ( 7 , 34 , 35 , 39 , 44 ).…”

Tsunamis as Long-Term Hazards to Coastal Groundwater Resources and Associated Water Supplies

“…However, only limited systematic research and reporting on the consequences of the 2004 tsunami on water infrastructure in affected regions was carried out and knowledge is mostly based on rapid impact assessments immediately after the event. Larger water infrastructure systems, like dams and larger urban water supply schemes were not impacted, simply because they were not located within the affected areas (Ballantyne, 2006). Also, no major or mega city was affected by the 2004-tsunami.…”

Effect of Spatial Variation of Earthquake Ground Motions on Seismic Vulnerability of Urban Road Network Considering Building Environment

“…Extreme earthquakes may cause serious economic losses and causalities in cities. Earthquake experience indicates that the damage of urban road infrastructure will reduce the efficiency of the emergency rescue and relief material transportation after large earthquakes [1][2][3]. The urban road infrastructure system is commonly represented as a spatial network and connects almost all areas of the city.…”