Indonesia’s coastal areas are extremely vulnerable to tsunamis. Tsunamis kill more people than any other natural disaster Climate and Environment
Over the past century, there have been 58 tsunamis on the planet. They have killed more than 260,000 people. On average, each of these disasters killed 4,600 people – more than any other natural disaster. The most fatal was the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004 – 227,000 people died in 14 countries. Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand suffered the most.
November 5 marks World Tsunami Awareness Day. This phenomenon can be deadly, but it does not have to be, the UN emphasizes. Early warning systems and timely actions are effective tools to protect the population.
What is a tsunami?
The word “tsunami” comes from two Japanese words – “tsu” (harbor, port) and “nami” (wave). Tsunamis are a series of sea gravity waves formed as a result of large-scale disturbances in the thickness of sea water.
In most cases, tsunamis are caused by earthquakes. Other tsunami-generating phenomena include volcanic eruptions near or in the ocean, movement of underwater sediment, landslides on the coast with falling rock falling into the water, or large explosions in the ocean caused by human activity or meteorites.
Often, a tsunami can hit a shore as a vertical wall of turbulent water, which can be very destructive.
Children in Bali, Indonesia, receive disaster preparedness training. disasters.
Get to High Ground – #GetToHighGround
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) launched the #GetToHighGround campaign in 2022 to raise public awareness of the tsunami risk. The campaign encourages citizens to take part in a variety of activities, including walking along tsunami evacuation routes, to help communities become better prepared for natural disasters.
The events are inclusive and engage more people in raising awareness about tsunami risk reduction.
“I call on governments and coastal partners to raise awareness [about tsunamis] so that children and young people know how and where to evacuate to higher ground,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
The day was proclaimed at the initiative of Japan
In December 2015, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming November 5 as World Tsunami Awareness Day. The General Assembly called upon all countries, international and regional organizations, and civil society to raise public awareness of the dangers of tsunamis and share their experiences.
The initiative to proclaim the Day belongs to Japan, which has accumulated vast experience in the field of early warning, tsunami response and recovery, as well as in reducing the risk of future disasters.