Post-Tsunami Assessment in the coastal region

between
Kanyakumari and Ovari, Tamil Nadu – a case study

S. Saravanan1 N. Chandrasekar1, C. Hentry3, M. Rajamanickam1

J. Loveson Immanuel1 and P. Siva Subramanian2

1. Centre for Geo Technology, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli – 627

012
2. Marine Geochemistry Research Lab, Spic Research centre, V.O.C. College, Tuticorin –
628 008
3. Department of Physics, St. Jude’s College, Thoothoor – 629 176

ABSTRACT

Coastal zones are dynamic areas that are constantly undergoing

change in response to a multitude of factors including sea level rise,
wave and current patterns, hurricanes and human influences. On 26 th
December 2004, huge waves smashed across the shore between
Kanyakumari and Ovari. As they crossed the beach, the waves up to
30 feet tall. Many people are dead due to crush and pull to sea and
drowned as the mighty waves withdraw. Many villages have been
obliterated, the death tole could exceed 300 but the damage to the
property is very high. The size of the Tsunami is related to the area
that moves on the ocean bottom and how far it moves.
This region is manifested with marine terrace, sand dunes, beach
ridges, estuaries, floodplains, beaches, mangroves, peneplains,
uplands, sea cliff, etc., we have attempted the shoreline dynamics
using beach profile survey, and coastal environment changes through
on line survey, Govt. records and coastal geomorphological studies
using remote sensing technique. The major destructions were
identified in this paper.
Key Words:- Tsunami, Waves, Ecological Impact.
1 INTRODUCTION

26th of December 2004, dawned silently like all the other

mornings. It was so with the Coastal areas of Tamil Nadu. But, on that
Sunday’s morning, all on a sudden, from Marina Beach, Chennai and
down to the Coastal areas of Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and then down
south to Colachel, the coastal area on the West side of Kanyakumari tip
of India. In no time, the sea, in a sudden ferocious way rose high and
got into the land covering two to three kilometres of areas with its
watery net. In this process thousands of people were taken off, into the
fold of the sea and killed.

Whenever an earthquake occurs on land, the seismic energy

released by it normally travels in waves resulting in damage to
buildings and other structures(2). But the seismic energy released by
the earthquake in ocean causes tsunamis which travel thousand of
kilometers. The tsunamis hit the obstacles that come along their path
with great ferocity and the east coast was the first obstacle where the
huge tidal waves encountered, causing destruction all along the coast.

When, We visited the affected coastal areas from Kanykumari to

Ovari, the whole area gave a painful feeling on how the already
deprived and the marginalized communities like the fisher folk, gets
more and more victimized during such calamities, of natural or human
made. All the areas remained like deserted battlefields with broken
buildings, dead bodies, carcasses of animals, uprooted trees and
deserted and lone houses and huts. The fishing boats could be seen
damaged and lying in different faraway areas up to one to two
kilometers away from the sea. The fishing nets were also seen lying in
a stranded way. There were cries and wailings everywhere due to the
destruction made by the tsunami in the study area. The detailed
studies of Post-tsunami assessment were made in this paper.

2 Tsunami and Study area

The study are located between Latitude of N 80 04’ to N 80 17’

and Longitude of E 770 32’ to E 770 54’ at southern part of the Tamil
Nadu. It encompasses district of Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli (Table
1). It is bounded by Bay of Bengal in the east, Western ghats in the
west and Indian Ocean in the south being the southern most tip of
India (Figure 1). Mostly Kanyakumari district made of Charnockite,
Garnetiferous gneiss and Leptynite and Tirunelveli district made of
mostly Garnite gneiss.

The killer earthquake, which had its epicenter near Indonesia,

claimed five lives in the district when tidal waves triggered by seismic
activity entered nine coastal villages and caused extensive damage to
fisherman’s property particularly catamarans and fishing nets. Of the
nine coastal villages in the district – Koottapuli, Perumanal, Panjal,
Idinthakarai, Thomaiyarpuram, Koothankuzhi, Uvari, Koottappanai and
Kooduthaazhai all under Radhapuram taluk and Koothankuzhi,
Idinthakarai and Koottapuli were the worst affected. However, no men
and materials at the site of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project were
affected or damaged. The seawater, which started entering
Kooththankuzhi around 9.30 am, invaded about 750 meters into the
villages. The intense tides, which entered more than six times
between 9.30 am and 1 pm. Capsized fiberglass boats with huge holes
could be seen floating at a distance from the shore. Around 30
catamarans were pushed up to the bridge, nearly a km away form the
sea Seawater swelled around 9.30 am and moved nearly 250-400
meters into the land. When it receded, it retreated one km beyond the
normal point, leaving a huge stretch of dump land. However, the
retreat and invasion of heavy tides continued in frequent intervals.
Vivekananda Memorial Rock and near the Tiruvalluvar Statue at
Kanayakumari, the waves were boost up above a height of 33m.
Compared to Western coast of Tamilnadu not a lot of Casualties not
much occured in Southern Coast of Tamil Nadu.

3. Tsunami wave approachs along the study area

In Tamil Nadu, the “shadow” coastal regions of Tuticorin,

Rameswaram, Kanyakumari, and Tiruchendur were relatively less
afftected. In these areas, the effects were generated by diffracted
waves, which were less intense than the direct impact of tsunamis.
When a wave encountered a large barrier, its motion penetrated the
region of the geometric shadow by a process of scattering of wave
diffraction. When the waves were diffracted by a large leading body,
their height gets progressively diminished, resulting continued
reduction in wave energy flux until it met with another boundary of the
trailing body. Understanding this phenomenon could have
considerable practical significance in establishing the wave action
behind large breakwaters or offshore structures and around small
islands(5).

The speed of the tsunami was governed by the water depth.

Speed reduces and wave height. Speed reduces and wave height
increased as it approached the shore (Fig.2)

4. Methodology
4.1. Data and field inspection
 Most of the data and information were gathered from field
inspection of shoreline morphology as well as from eyewitnesses and
survivors through interviews. True wave heights of tsunami were
measured and/or estimated from the accounts of the interviewees (i.e.
relative to their body or height of watermarks) and landmarks such as
trees, rocks, coral reefs, dikes, riverbanks and other natural features
found in the area. Existing records from collector office and
municipalities we gathered information wherever possible for
verification purposes, particularly in terms of damages related to
tsunami inundation.

During interviews, information was extracted from the interviews

through a patterned set of questions and through their own
spontaneous accounts from the time they felt the strong ground
shaking until the tsunami waves receded to its normal level. Interview
was conducted at least every 2 to 5 kilometers for a uniform sampling
point between municipalities and communities along the coast. Each
tsunami intensity measurement for all the areas visited is based on the
Tsunami Intensity Scale (Ambrasey, 1962).

4.2. Tsunami Height

The change in tsunami height with distance from the shoreline is

important information for determining how the tsunami lost energy as
it moved inland. Casualties and damage to structures were strongly
related to the height of a tsunami not only at the shoreline, but also
how it decreases inland.

There were structures and trees remaining in many locations,

where the tsunami was large. Tsunami height information is one of the
best data set ever collected on how a tsunami looses energy moving
inland. Water levels were usually greatest near the shoreline and
decrease to zero at the limit of tsunami penetration where all the
energy of the tsunami was expended (Fig.3). Water levels near the
shoreline measured varied from less than 3 meters to more than 10
meters. In general, water levels, and by inference tsunami height, near
the shoreline increased on the North toward the South.

There was, however, considerable variability caused by a number

of factors including underwater topography (focusing or defocusing of
tsunami energy, removal of energy by drag on the bottom and
breaking) and orientation of the coastline. In areas where the there
were no structures or trees left standing after the tsunami, tsunami
height will be modeled using inundation distance, run-up elevation,
and topographic data.

Fig.3:- Schematic diagram showing the Tsunami height

4.3. Inundation distance - The distance from the shoreline to the
limit of tsunami penetration

Inundation distance measured varied from less than 100 meters

to more than 1 kilometer. (Table. 2) In general, inundation distance
increased on the Northern coast of Tamil Nadu towards the South.
However there was considerable variability caused by a number of
factors, including slope of the land (greater inundation distances in
flatter areas), underwater topography, and orientation of the coastline.
The South and West coasts of Tamil Nadu are characterized by rocky
headlands and intervening embayment with narrow beaches and low,
coastal plain topography. Tsunami inundation was greatest in the
embayment. Measured inundation distances will be compared to
predictions to improve the ability to model future tsunamis in Sri Lanka
and elsewhere(4) .

Generally, tsunami inundation varied from several centimeters

and reached as far as 100 to 1000 meters inland wherein the coast
between Kanyakumari and Ovari suffered the worst where many
houses and boats were totally destroyed and/or washed away into the
open sea. Based on inundation distance, prepared the Tsunami
Classification map (Fig. 4).

4.4. Run-up elevation—the elevation above sea level of a tsunami at

the limit of penetration.
 Run-up elevation measured varied from less than 3 meters to
more than 12 meters. In general, run-up elevation increased towards
the South. On the South coasts run-up elevation typically was greatest
at the headlands. There was, however, considerable variability caused
by a number of factors, including slope of the land (lower run-up
elevations in flatter areas), underwater topography, and orientation of
the coastline. Measured run-up elevations will be compared to predict
and to improve the ability to model future tsunamis in Tamil Nadu and
elsewhere.

4.5. Tsunami Sand Deposits

The tsunami in Tamil Nadu carried sand from the beach and
ocean floor and deposited it in buildings, on top of boulders, and on the
ground. Tsunami sand deposits were found at all sites. Although
tsunamis were capable of eroding the land, erosion in Tamil Nadu was
often concentrated in a relatively narrow zone near the coast. (Mid-
Tide region). The sand eroded was transported both onshore and
offshore. The sand transported onshore formed a recognizable tsunami
sand deposit. Tsunami sand deposits started about 50 meters inland,
and decreased in thickness from about 10 centimeter total thickness to
about 2 cm thickness at about 250 meters inland. Tsunami sediments
were dumped in very few places. Most of these deposits were eroded
or washed away by the waves of the same tsunami event or the
succeeding big waves of typhoons and the usual high tides. The only
place where the deposit is still available for future and further studies
in Chinna muttam, Rasthakaddu, Kuttapuli, Navaladi and Perumanal
(Figure. 5 ).

In other locations where the tsunami was larger, both the width
of the erosion zone and the tsunami deposit were larger. The tsunami
sand deposits often contained two or more layers. These layers were
formed by different tsunami waves and by variations in flow within a
wave(3) .

4.6. Changes in Beach Morphology and sediments

Sand dunes may have totally disappeared or remnants may be

left with a vertical seaward slope and bereft of vegetation (Herbs). In
small sandy bays, all the sand may have been moved to the end of the
beach. Beach Profile was completely changed in some places (figure.
6). And also, Beach width, Beach slope also varied after tsunami.
(Table. 3) Whenever, the sea is inward, the deposition is taken place.
After Tsunami, heavy mineral deposition is present significantly. 3m –
4m sea level rise leading to erosion activities changed in the beach
slope variation. Many gentle slope regions have been transformed into
steep slope region and flat regions also transformed into gentle slope
regions. Heavy mineral deposits in sand washed ashore from the deep
sea by the tsunami seismic waves from mining area along the coast of
Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli district.

5. Analysis and Discussions for Post-tsunami assessment

Out of nineteen (19) towns and communities that were visited,

only nine sites were directly affected by the tsunami event. These sites
were located mainly along the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu. True
heights were measured in all locations together with the arrival times
and period of tsunami waves. Other observable features like
subsidence, uplift, erosion etc. were likewise noted.

During the field visit, it was seen that as the waves approach the
shores of Kanyakumari at about 100m from the shore, the wave height
is about 20cm to about 50cm. But as it enters the concave-shaped
coastline the wave increase its size to almost double or triple as it
breaks on the shore. Such increase in wave height is an indication of
the presence of features that enhance the unusual wave height. The
cause of the unusual height of the tsunami in this area is most
probably due to one or combination of these features: the direction of
the wave as it approaches the shore, submarine topography and the
concave-shaped of the shore fronting Tiruchendure (Figure.7).
However, based on tsunami time arrival, the earliest wave reached in
Ovari region, that is located about 60km north of the town. The
tsunami arrived in this area nippy relative to Kanyakumari. Wave time
arrivals in the southern area have some variations. Generally, the
tsunami was preceded by lowering of sea water level from about 50-
250m exposing corals and other submarine features. Further, this
coastal area remained flooded at about a meter higher than the usual.

On the other hand, only few areas like Kanyakumari were

affected by erosion due to the passage of tsunami waves. It can be
deduced as well that the amount of sediment dumped by the tsunami
wave is not significant enough to cause any noticeable local lowering
of water level or increase in land elevation relative to the previous
mean sea level. Among the coastal features observed, the coral reef
located between 100-200m from the shore is the most significant.
Residents noted that the tsunami wave broken as it encountered the
reefs and decreased in height before it reached the shorelines of
Southern Tamil Nadu. Without coral reefs, the tsunami wave could
have reached the shorelines with a much higher and in more
destructive height. From our investigation mainly tsunami impacts
more in lowland area and inland areas like estuaries, tidal inlets and
channels. (Figure 8).
 Lastly, it was noted that based on the interviews, only one strong
ground shaking was observed by the residents. Considering the
magnitude and location of the event at that time, we can somehow
infer the most probable event that was felt and tsunami damages in
the south. The tsunami wave propagated in the southern part of Tamil
Nadu based on their fault zone present along these sites. Furthermore,
much have to be done in terms of seismic analysis to confirm the
above mentioned probabilities.

6. The environmental impact of tsunamis

Reports about the tsunamis understandably have been

dominated by tales of death, suffering and the physical destruction of
infrastructure. But man was not alone in feeling the impact. But,
ecosystems and other species were also affected. Saltwater intrusion
in ground water was disappearance or relocation of beaches have also
observed. Tsunamis may make small, low islands uninhabitable.
Vegetation in large stretches of lowland can be hurt substantially as
saltwater-tolerant mangroves and grasses take over from other
species. For rare animals with specific reproduction sites, like marine
turtles, the tsunamis effects could spell extinction. Whereas the
damage to the environment on land can be seen and the ravages
imposed on the marine environment are hidden. Obviously, when
extremely strong waves hit coral reefs, some coral breaks off. But this
is a comparatively small problem. The surface of coral is highly
sensitive, and will now be exposed to major damage from all sorts of
silt and debris carried back by water receding from flooded land.

At the same time, the materials brought back from land to sea
include nutrients and trace elements that cause a boom among
plankton, which in turn feed other marine biota. Locally, but sometimes
still at a grand scale, the shock waves cause major sediment slides on
steep underwater slopes such as those of the continental shelves.

Closer to the shore, many natural ecosystems, most notably

coral reefs and mangroves, act as natural shock absorbers and wave
breakers. During the past several decades, these ecosystems have
been damaged and reduced in most countries along the Indian Ocean.
Indeed, the damage from the tsunami waves was far more devastating
than it would have been had they still been intact.

The situation on Sumatra is similarly grim, and it is even worse in

the Tamil Nadu, where not only fishermen and boats were lost, but
harbours were ruined. Such major losses in fishing capacity, with their
far-reaching negative socio-economic consequences on the human
populations and bound to have major, mostly favourable, effects on
the fish stocks (Table 4). The reason is simple: with most fish
populations nowadays hit hard by over-fishing. Another factor that fish
stocks is a religiously motivated by the public in some areas to eat
marine fish, as they are perceived to have fed on human corpses
washed to sea (Table 5).

7. The ecological programme demands the following

a) Promote peoples' participation in the conservation and

enhancement of mangrove and other coastal wetlands, as well as coral
reefs and coastal and marine biodiversity; A participatory mangrove
forest management programme based on the guidelines already
developed. It is based on the successful model of joint forest
management that is in progress in most parts of India.
 b) Promote the organization of community nurseries of mangrove
and other appropriate tree species chosen under the coastal bio-shield
and agro-forestry programmes.

c) Regenerate fisheries and foster a sustainable fisheries

programme. The new fishing vessels and nets should be designed. So
that they do not disrupt the fish life cycle by catching young ones and
also do not destroy sea grass beds that serve as habitats for dugongs.

d) Provide landward housing sites for fisher families: The new

houses should respect the 500 meter restriction and should be
ecologically designed. Had all fisherfolk been given housing sites on
the landward side of coastal roads, the death toll from the tsunami
would have been much lower. Anticipatory action against sea level rise
also demands a human security driven design of coastal habitations.

e) The third medium - and long-term programme is establishing a

network of rural knowledge centers. The crucial importance of timely
information in averting loss of life during natural calamities is not
widely recognized. A network of rural knowledge centers must be
established all along the coat as soon as possible. Such centers will use
in an integrated way in the internet, community (FM) radio, cable TV,
and the Indian language press. They will provide generic as well as
dynamic information, and help disseminate locale-specific and demand
driven information.

f) A resource center for mangrove forest conservation,

rehabilitation, and expansion is urgently needed. Further, training
modules must be prepared in local languages on a wide range of topics
relating to both ecological and livelihood security.

8. HOW TO PREVENT OR REDUCE THE TSUNAMI IMPACT

8.1. Groynes did their bit

Royapuram-Thiruvottriyur belt, has witnessed severe coastal

erosion for decades, but did not suffer due to the groynes being
constructed. As many as 10 groynes have been proposed along this
belt, of which four have been completed. “The construction of the
groynes has led to the formation of smaller beaches in and around
them. Though the full benefits of the groynes will be realized later, the
fact that they ensured virtually nil damage in these during tsunami.
The similar structure can be recommended based on the other
nearshore parameter to the Tsunami vulnerability zone. Which is a
sign of their success.

8.2. Mangroves can act as shield against Tsunami

Tsunami is a rare phenomenon. Though we can not prevent the

occurrence of such natural calamities, our anticipatory research work
to preserve mangrove ecosystems as the first line of defense against
devastating tidal waves on the eastern coast line has proved very
relevant today. The dense mangrove forests stood like a wall to save
coastal communities living behind them. The mangroves in
Pichavaram and Muthupet region acted like a shield and bore the brunt
of the tsunami. The impact was mitigated and lives and property of
the communities inhabiting the region were saved. One is to conserve
and regenerate coastal mangroves along the eastern coast of the
country, and the second is transfer of salt-tolerant genes from the
mangroves to the selected crops grown in the coastal regions. It is not
found that wherever the mangroves have been regenerated, especially
in the Orissa coast, the damage due to tsunami is minimal. Tsunami
and mangroves are high-lighting the need to conserve and rehabilitate
mangroves as the frontline defense against tidal forces.
9. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Based on field investigations and interviews, people observed

the tsunami between 1-10 minutes after the strong ground shaking
related to the event. The water level retreated to about 50-250m
several minutes before the tsunami waves arrived. True wave height
varied from several centimeters up to 6 meters in some areas. The
most common observations showed that the wave related to the
tsunami oscillated for several minutes and the first wave was usually
the biggest among the waves. The unusual height at Kanyakumari is
probably the result of the combined effects of wave direction,
submarine topography and shoreline shape of Kanyakumari. Based on
the overall true height of the tsunami, the average height of tsunami is
about a 5-7m meter high. Tsunami inundation varied from several
centimeters and reached as far as 200-500 meters above in inland.
There was no unusual uplift and/or subsidence observed in the
northern coast. During the above field visits, at least two places were
identified for future stratigraphic logging or trenching of tsunami
deposit. Existing coral reefs somehow played an important role in
attenuating the tsunami heights, thus reducing its destructive effects.

Future activities to occur at any time in the coast to elucidate the

tsunamigenic event are recommended. Trenching of tsunami deposit,
review of historical events, and detailed mapping of shoreline
morphology would be very helpful. Furthermore, seismic analysis and
simulations might explain some anomalous observations.

10. RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the above observations, the following activities are
suggested:

1. Trenching work or agur sampling from tsunami deposits to get

more information about the tsunami as well as the other possible
previous tsunami events.

2. Review other big historical events in the area for future tsunami
by simulations and correlation with regional geodetic database.

3. Detailed study of morphological features along these areas to

identify possible areas that could generate unusually high
tsunami waves.

4. Closer analysis of seismic record to clearly explain why there was

only one Strong ground shaking felt and/or to identify which
event.

5. Grow the mangroves or coral reefs and most of the construction

is on beaches or close to high tide region.

6. Build the groins in vulnerable Coastal villages to control the

tsunami effect.

Acknowledgement:

The authors are thankful to Dr. Bhoop Singh, Director, NRDMS,

Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi for his kind help in
preparing the manuscript and generating the data from field. The
authors are thankful to Department of Science and Technology, New
Delhi for providing the financial assistance under NRDMS Scheme
(ES/11/526/2000) and (ES/11/936(5)/2005).

References:
1) Ambrasey, N.N., 1962. Data for the investigation of the seismic
sea-waves in the Eastern Medditerranean. Bulletin of
Seismological Society of America 52(4): 895-913.
2) Besana, G. M., M. T. Mirabueno, G. Quiambao, and P. Reniva,
Final Report of 1992, Bislig.
3) Daligdig, J.A. and Tungol, N.M. 1992. The May 17, 1992 Mindanao
Earthquake, PHIVOLCS, Annual Report.
4) Lander, J.F., Whiteside, L.S. and Lockridge, P.A., 2003. Two
decades of Global tsunamis 1982-2002, Sceince of Tsunami
Hazards, The International Journal of the Tsunami Society, 21(1):
3-88.
5) Narag, I. C., Lanuza, A. G., Diongzon, N. F., Peñarubia, H. C. and
Marte, F. A., 1992 Quick Response Team Report, PHIVOLCS.