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International audience; A numerical simulation of the 26th December, 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami of the Tamil Nadu coastal zone is presented. The simulation approach is based on a fully nonlinear Boussinesq tsunami propagation model and included an accurate computational domain and a robust coseismic source. The simulation is first confronted to available tide gauge and runup observations. The agreement between observations and the predicted wave heights allowed a reasonable validation of the simulation. As a result, a full picture of the tsunami impact is provided over the entire coastal zone Tamil Nadu. The processes responsible for coastal vulnerability are discussed.

Inundation maps for Esmeraldas, Ecuador were produced to identify areas susceptible to tsunami flooding as a first step to develop a reliable early tsunami warning system and to indicate evacuation routes and emergency shelter locations. The identification of possible tsunami source areas was based on the historic record of regional tsunamigenic earthquakes. As expected, results of the simulated tsunamis showed the most destructive tsunamis to Esmeraldas to be those that are generated directly off the coast of Esmeraldas. Among the most vulnerable places in Esmeraldas are Las Palmas and Capitania de Puerto; this is in spite of the protection offered by structures built up to protect the harbor. Both banks of the Esmeraldas River were also found to be highly vulnerable to tsunami flooding.