Thailand Lifelines after the December 2004 Great Sumatra Earthquake and Indian Ocean Tsunami

Abstract

A team of engineers went to the west coast of Thailand to investigate and document damage resulting from the 2004 Indian ocean tsunami. For the most part, the road system performed well during the tsunami. Bridges and culverts seemed to handle most of the inflow and outflow of the flooding with little or no erosion. Some bridge approaches and railings were damaged by the flooding, but service was not significantly interrupted. Most bridges in the beachfront areas of southern Thailand and Phuket were not extensively damaged by the tsunami. However, scour behind the abutments and wing walls evidently damaged the approach spans and put many of the bridges temporarily out of service. Water system damage was concentrated in the coastal areas. The lack of major pumping and treatment facilities along the coastline of Thailand and Phuket Island prevented major damage to the key components of the potable water system. However, private and localized wells and pumps were inundated by the tsunami, thus shorting the electrical components and contaminating the wells with saltwater. Damage to wastewater collection and treatment facilities was limited to those within the inundation zone. Due to the localized, coastal impacts of the tsunami, there was no damage to major electrical and telecommunications facilities, which are typically inland.