Archive:Effect of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake on Somalia

Villages and coastal communities in Somalia, as far as 4,500 km (2,800 mi) from the epicentre of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, were swept away and destroyed by resulting tsunamis. Presidential spokesperson Yusuf Mohamed Ismail of the transitional government has stated that at least 200 people are dead and more than 50,000 have been displaced. Most of damage is in semi-autonomous Puntland , especially the northeastern island of Hafun, 1150 km (715 mi) northeast of Mogadishu. In Puntland, rising waters engulfed the town mosque of Brava and the villages of Beyla, Garacad, Muduy and Nugaal were reported destroyed. Much of the 1,000 km (621 mi) coast is controlled by various clan-based militias, making obtaining accurate information difficult. The first aid supplies from the United Nations reached Hafun four days after the quake. [1]