Assessing the Economic Losses Impact on Buildings Based on Tsunami Hazard in Banda Aceh, Indonesia

Abstract

Tsunami, caused by undersea seismic activity, pose a severe threat to coastal areas worldwide. Apart from the loss of human lives, these colossal waves result in substantial economic damages. Their recurrence is tied to earthquakes, thus the probabilistic occurrence of tsunami resulting from earthquakes tends to have the same potential recurrence period as the earthquake events. The devastating tsunami that struck Aceh, Indonesia, on December 26, 2004, serves as a tragic example of the economic losses caused by tsunami. The tsunami’s impact on Aceh’s economy was profound, requiring long-term efforts to rebuild critical infrastructure and revive economic activities. Based on the 2004 tsunami event, it was learned that tsunami occur with the same return period as earthquakes. Therefore, this study is an extension aimed at identifying the economic losses resulting from a tsunami hazard. The tsunami modeling utilizes the numerical method COMCOT with a magnitude of 9.2 Mw. To assess building damage, the fragility function equation is employed to determine the percentage of damage to structures. We simulate the losses resulting from a tsunami with a magnitude 9.2 Mw, focusing only on buildings in Banda Aceh. The buildings are classified according to the Hazard United States (HAZUS). We have found that the losses caused by tsunami disasters on buildings are significant. This makes tsunami one of the disasters with a major economic impact. This information is crucial in determining the potential losses from disasters and estimating the expected maximum financial costs.