Impact of the 26-12-04 tsunami

< back

The tsunami hit the eastern part of the south coast of Yemen and Socotra Island

• Topography: the coastal zones in southeast Yemen are flat to slightly sloping; the island Socotra can be considered as a separate physiographic unit and is rocky with narrow coastal plains
• Geology: the coastal zones comprise alluvial and marine sediments and locally sandy dunes; the sediments are underlain mainly by limestone
• Hydrogeology: the hydraulic properties of the sediments vary from poor to good conditions; the groundwater found in the sediments along the coast line is often brackish
• Vulnerability: Intrusion of saline water during the tsunami flood is expected in permeable sediments. The salts in soils and aquifer will take a long time to be removed, because of the low rainfall.
• Water Supply: all islands rely on surface water; groundwater is only used at La Digue Island to augment the supply in the dry season; additional supply from desalinisation plants
• Damage areas: UNEP reported increased salinities in wells along the southeast coast

< back