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The ripple effect

By Louise Butcher

Photograph, caption follows

Orange indicates tsunami-devastated zones
White indicates the earthquake rupture zone, about 1200km long

During the early hours of Boxing Day, December 26, last year, a giant earthquake measuring 9.3 on the Richter Scale generated a series of tsunamis, causing wide-scale devastation.

Originating just off the western coast of Northern Sumatra, Indonesia, the earthquake's aftershocks were felt in numerous countries. Immediately after 1am Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), the tsunamis crashed into the Indonesian provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra.

1.30pm GMT: Phuket, Thailand is struck.

2.30pm GMT: the deadly wave hits the eastern and southern coasts of Sri Lanka.

2.45pm GMT: the wave slams into India's eastern coastline.

4pm GMT: the wave hits Male in the Maldives.

11pm GMT: the tsunami wave reaches the east coast of Africa.

Defence springs in action

Photograph, caption follows

The western coast of Aceh has been radically altered and rice paddies are choked with mud and debris. Photo by Cpl Cameron Jamieson, Army newspaper

December 26
  • CDF hears news of seismic activity on radio news, ADF action begins.
December 27
  • Two C-130s and a team of personnel depart from RAAF Richmond to assist in providing humanitarian support in the region.
December 28
  • An additional two C-130s depart RAAF Richmond.
  • Air Force air load team from No. 1 Air Terminal Squadron arrive to help deliver aid.
December 29
  • A further two civilian medical teams depart RAAF Richmond by B-707.
  • The planes are loaded with 37,000 pounds of cargo, carrying 15 crew and 28 medical disaster relief specialists from around Australia.
  • A mobile water purification plant is dispatched for arrival in Medan, Sumatra, on December 30.
December 30
  • After delivering vital humanitarian aid to Banda Aceh, two C-130s pick up more than 100 evacuees and fly them to Medan.
  • Three UH-1H Iroquois helicopters are transported from RAAF Amberley to Indonesia, transported on a chartered Antonov AN-124 aircraft, to help with distribution of aid to less accessible areas.
  • A Beech 350 King Air light aircraft is also in transit, bound for Indonesia to assist with search, observation and carriage of humanitarian assistance into less developed airstrips.
  • The four C-130s already in the region and a New Zealand Hercules continue operating between Medan and Banda Aceh carrying supplies and, where possible, ferrying victims out of the area.
  • Additional aircrews are sent to Sumatra by commercial carriers to ensure full use of the RAAF transport aircraft.
December 31
  • HMAS Kanimbla and an Army Engineering detachment deploy to RAAF Darwin. They carry with them two Sea King helicopters and landing craft, plus additional Defence personnel. More than 100 ADF personnel are now working in and around Aceh with about 600 providing support for the operation from Australia.
January 2
  • Three Oakey-based Army Iroquois helicopters from A Squadron, 5th Aviation Regiment, together with six trucks depart from RAAF Amberley for Jakarta, before deploying to Medan, the primary forward operating base. The detachment of 47 personnel depart RAAF Amberley later today.
  • A total of eight C-130 Hercules are now assisting. Four C-130s (including one New Zealand aircraft) are moving stores within Indonesia, while another four aircraft are establishing an air bridge to move stores, equipment and people from Australia.
January 3
  • A field hospital of 90 members from the 1st Health Support Battalion, including doctors, nurses and medical technical staff is sent to Sumatra.
  • Another Army Iroquois helicopter departs for Indonesia.
January 5
  • A logistics hub is established in Butterworth, Malaysia, to help better manage the flow of equipment and stores into Sumatra.
January 6
  • Eight Air Force air traffic control officers from No. 44 Wing deploy.
January 7
  • HMAS Kanimbla departs for Banda Aceh. She carries the following personnel and assets: 250 sailors; two Sea King helicopters; two landing craft (LCM8s) capable of carrying 54 tonnes of cargo each and delivering supplies directly ashore without the use of wharf facilities; an engineer detachment of 150 personnel; 10 4WD Unimog trucks; six Mack trucks; four bulldozers; three front-end loaders; 12 Land Rovers; and other construction supplies.
January 10
  • Two C-130s conduct a fly-past during the World Cricket Tsunami Appeal match. One of the C-130 aircraft then continues its journey to Indonesia to assist victims of the tsunami.
January 13
  • HMAS Kanimbla arrives at Banda Aceh and immediately begins operations.

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