Rodrigues,Mauritius,and Réunion Islands Field Survey after the December 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami

The effects of the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami on the islands of Rodrigues, Mauritius, and Réunion were surveyed in March 2005. Runup and inundation were obtained at 35 sites. Measured runup ranges from 2.9 m on the southeastern coast of Rodrigues to negligible values further west on the same island, with most variations expressing the effect of differences in the structure of the coral reef. Most of the damage on Réunion was concentrated in harbors. At the main harbor of Le Port on Réunion, a 196-m vessel broke loose from its moorings and began drifting, inflicting damage on port infrastructure; this incident took place significantly later than the passage of the maximum-amplitude waves. There is a potential hazard to the Mascarene Islands from any future large earthquake in southern Sumatra.