Utilities and Life lines

Power generating stations and their ancillary facilities, transmission networks and lines as well as petroleum and gas supply systems, and water and sewerage systems, may be damaged or destroyed.

		The effects of the 1992 tsunami at Wuhring, Flores Islands, where 100 were killed.

Such destruction can lead to interrupted supplies of electricity and gas. Water and sewerage provision may be entirely lost due to damage and destruction to stores, treatment plants, pipes, drains and pumping stations. There will be direct costs involved in the repair and replacement costs of these facilities dependent on the severity of damage and the percentage of facilities damaged, level of state aid and level of insurance cover (see Table 1 and Table 4).

Transportation

Railroads/Highways/Airports/Ports and Harbours/Shipping and Navigation Aids

Tsunamis frequently have a catastrophic impact on coastal transportation networks and facilities located within flood zones. Railroad terminals, marshalling yards, sheds and track may be destroyed or damaged. Such loss of facilities may hamper movement of goods, passengers, relief work and reestablishment of normal economic activity. Coastal highways and road networks can be badly damaged and unpaved roads are easily washed away. Bridges, tunnels, flyovers, petrol and fuel stations and viaducts are all susceptible to damage and destruction. Airports and airstrips located on low-lying coastal plains subject to tsunami inundation may sustain damage or loss of run- and taxi ways, hangers, storage facilities, lighting systems and control/radar networks. Due to their location, harbours, ports and other shipping related services can be very severely affected by tsunami. Harbour structures (e.g. docks, piers, jetties), ancillary equipment (e.g. lifting cranes), warehouses and transport terminals as well as ships, boats, and fishing fleet stock are especially vulnerable. Direct losses for the insurance industry will be incurred when claims are made. Indirect losses may be sustained due to the costs associated with the dredging of sediments deposited by tsunamis in harbours and navigation channels. Loss of navigation aids can also hamper shipping movements in and around harbours and sea channels resulting in a decline of shipping and thus, economic activity.

Communications

Radio/telephone/television network systems/satellite/fibre-optic communications

Following major tsunamis, loss of radio, telephone, satellite, fibre-optic and television networks may occur. These losses may result from either direct damage to lines, buildings, cables, dishes and transmission networks or due to loss of power through interruption to electricity supply.