Besides the deaths, more than one million people were left homeless and hundreds of thousands homes and businesses were destroyed. The United Nations estimated that, "...the disaster will prove to be the costliest ever recorded, with full economic recovery not expected for up to 10 years in many areas. " (Intute: Science, engineering and technology: Tsunamis)

The physical structure of the coast and the environment was severely damaged which meant that flora and fauna was disrupted and destroyed. "The extent of this damage is being assessed and will likely vary considerably depending on the local topography and hydrology." (Anonymous: Impact of Tsunamis on Ecosystems)

In addition to the environmental damage and pollution caused by the Tsunami was the fact that non-biodegradable waste such as plastics led to an increase of marine debris.

Another environmental aspect was that, "Toxic wastes, which were inadequately stored, may have been dispersed."

Anonymous: Impact of...
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