Extreme Tsunami Run Up and Inundation Flows at Banda Aceh, Indonesia: Are There Any Solutions to this Type of Coastal Disaster?

Almost 3 years after the extreme 26 December 2004 tsunami event, which devastated the Banda Aceh region of Sumatra, certain coastal protection works have been planned and implemented. They comprise mainly of seawalls, breakwaters, and planting forest trees and mangroves as a wave-absorbing greenbelt. Numerical modeling of this catastrophic event was established to investigate the processes of tsunami propagation and inundation flows over the Banda Aceh coastal region, identify zones that had escaped devastation (as identified during the post event field survey) and assess possible types of coastal protection along the affected coasts. Results of the modeling showed that for protection against such a 2004-type event, huge structures ∼ 15 m high would be required, but are not economically feasible. However, mature mangroves stands may offer reasonable protection, and this option shows greater promise as an affordable solution.