Observed on November 5

Where does the name tsunami come from?

Fun fact: The word tsunami is actually of Japanese origin. It was formed from the Japanese words tsu, meaning ‘harbor’, and nami, meaning ‘wave’. The etymology of the word tsunami can be due to the fact that around one-third of all recorded tsunamis have occurred in Japan. 

What are tsunamis like?

Tsunamis can be as tall as 100 feet and come in multiple waves; oftentimes the secondary waves leave twice as much destruction behind as the first. They can be caused by underwater earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic eruptions. Tsunamis hit the shoreline at a ridiculous speed; a ‘slower’ tsunami would reach the coastline at 20 to 30 mph. For that reason and many more, even though they are rare occurrences, tsunamis are incredibly deadly and dangerous.

How do tsunamis damage and devastate our community?

From the year 1998 to 2017 there have been over 250,000 global deaths caused by tsunamis. Tsunamis demolish communities and destroy ecosystems. Additionally, a single tsunami can reduce a town or a city to ruins within the matter of mere minutes. This is why it is impossible to stop a tsunami. However, it is possible to reduce the damage of tsunamis. The most effective methods are early warning and early action. 

Can precautionary actions reduce the risk of damage?

According to UNDRR (United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction), an early warning of a natural disaster can reduce the resulting damage by 30%. Educating the public on warning signs, having evacuation drills in schools and offices, and forming a response-plan for the occasion of a tsunami are all great ways to prepare ahead of time for a tsunami. Being self-aware about tsunamis can serve to protect the ecosystem and society. 

What progress is being made to protect against tsunamis?

Japan is a key pioneer in developing more effective methods to reduce the devastation caused by tsunamis. In Sendai, Japan, the city is employing automated drones to issue evacuation alerts to their people. This method is much more effective because drones can warn many more people in much less time that helicopters could. In Chosi, Japan, many tsunami evacuation towers and roads are undergoing construction, and the city even has a plan to reduce the fatalities of earthquakes by 80% by the next decade. 

What is the purpose of World Tsunami Awareness Day?

The goal of World Tsunami Awareness Day is to raise awareness about tsunamis — their warning signs, hazards, and ways to reduce their damage. According to Mami Mizutori, Head of UNDRR, “In the face of devastation, early warning and early action remain the most effective way of protecting people from tsunamis.”

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