According to Danny Hilman Natawidjaya of the Indonesian Institute of Science's (LIPI) Geotechnology Center, the northern part of Ache is some 1.3 meters above sea level, while the southern part is now below sea level. Some islands in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, have been elevated to two meters to three meters above sea level, which has also expanded their surface area. The coastlines of Meulaboh and Banda Aceh had sunk by about one meter, causing the disappearance of a number of beaches. The coastline of the northern part of Simelue island is about 300 meters from where it was previously and coral reefs that had been visible in shallow waters, are now part of the island.