What is the Difference Between 2004 Tsunami and 2011 Tsunami?

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The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2011 Great East Japan tsunami were both massive and deadly natural disasters. However, there are several significant differences between the two:

  1. Number of Fatalities: The 2004 tsunami caused fatalities that were approximately ten times greater than those of the 2011 tsunami. The death toll for the 2004 tsunami was around 220,000, while the death count for the 2011 tsunami was around 2,000.
  2. Countries Affected: The 2004 tsunami affected 11 Indian Ocean countries, while the 2011 tsunami primarily affected Japan.
  3. Earthquake Magnitude: The 2004 earthquake had a magnitude of 9.1, while the 2011 earthquake had a magnitude of 9.0.
  4. Epicenter Location: The 2004 tsunami originated near the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, while the 2011 tsunami occurred near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
  5. Damage: The 2004 tsunami caused more loss of life, while the 2011 tsunami caused significant damage to infrastructure, including the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Comparative Table: 2004 Tsunami vs 2011 Tsunami

Here is a table comparing the differences between the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and the 2011 Tsunami in Japan:

Feature 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami 2011 Japan Tsunami
Earthquake Epicenter Sumatra, Indonesia Sendai, Japan
Earthquake Magnitude 9.1 9.0
Death Toll Over 220,000 Around 2,000, with thousands more missing
Affected Region Tohoku, Oshika Peninsula A large part of Japan's coast
Nuclear Impact No nuclear facilities affected Nuclear facilities affected, leading to a nuclear disaster

The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami had a higher death toll, with estimates ranging from 230,000 to 280,000 fatalities, while the 2011 Tsunami in Japan resulted in a death toll of around 2,000, but with the potential for thousands more as search efforts continued. The 2011 Tsunami also led to a nuclear disaster due to the damage caused to nuclear facilities.