World Tsunami Awareness Day

Tsunami is caused by a large displacement of water generally in the oceans. The large displacement of water can be triggered by earthquakes, landslides, underwater explosions above or below water all have a tendency to create tsunamis. Tsunamis do not resemble undersea currents or sea waves because their wavelength is far longer. Rather than appearing as a breaking wave, a tsunami instead resembles a rapidly rising wave. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was among the deadliest natural disasters in human history, with at least 230,000 people killed or missing in 14 countries bordering the Indian Ocean.

World Tsunami Awareness Day is an annual event held on 5 November to raise awareness of the dangerous effects of tsunamis and the importance of tsunami preparedness and early warning of tsunamis. It was first established in 2015 by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 70/23. On this day events are held in various countries and people are encouraged to spread awareness on social media. Tsunami awareness is very important as in the past 100 years there have been a total of 58 tsunamis with a combined death toll of over 260,000 people. Between 1998 and 2018 $200 billion was lost due to tsunamis. There is a potential for tsunami death tolls to increase in the future due to the combined effects of population increase in coastal areas and sea level rise. The official theme of World Tsunami Awareness Day 2023 is "fighting inequality for a resilient future." This theme emphasizes the role of equality and inclusivity in building resilient communities and protecting the vulnerable against the impact of tsunamis. It calls for collective action to ensure that no one is left behind when disaster strikes. 

Natural hazards have impacted the lives of human beings through the ages. People have survived its impact and lived through it to tell its tale to the next generation. In the present globalised world, its impact is felt everywhere even if they are not directly affected by the hazard. To grow as a Society we need to converge are resources in fighting these hazards and in reducing its impact. Through preparedness and an emphatic approach, we could reduce the loss of lives, help in rehabilitation, and reduce the mobility of refugees due to the effect of these natural hazards.