Performance of Lifelines in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, during the December 2004 Great Sumatra Earthquake and Tsunami

Abstract

The 26 December 2004 earthquake and tsunami significantly affected lifelines in Banda Aceh: (a) the water system sustained almost no damage due to shaking, but it had breaks at almost all aboveground stream crossings affected by the tsunami; (b) a waste disposal plant 1 km inland was estroyed by the tsunami; (c) electric utilities were not affected by shaking but were generally destroyed when impacted by the tsunami, and a floating generation barge was carried several kilometers inland; (d) a 70- m steel telecommunications tower at Lho Nga was destroyed by the tsunami; (e) the fishing port at Banda Aceh was totally destroyed, while the deep-water port at Kreung Raya (oil and dry cargo) lost half its piping and 3 of 9 oil tanks; (f) the airport at Banda Aceh is inland and had minor shaking damage to the control tower; and (g) one fire was reported on 26 December due to the earthquake. Significant lessons are (a) since the potential for this event was well known, the global earthquake community should better inform populations and decision makers; (b) urban master planning and building codes should include tsunami design as a standard and significant criterion; (c) the needs of lifeline operators should be considered in the design and development of tsunami warning systems; (d) building and other design codes should include tsunami design as a standard loading; and (e) extrapolation of the experience in this event to other situations is required.