Lessons from the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami for the Next Generation
On December 26, 2004, an earthquake in the Indian Ocean caused a devastating tsunami that tragically claimed the lives of around 230,000 people and affected 14 countries. This event marked the first major global disaster of the 21st century and remains one of the deadliest in recent history.
The lessons learned by the survivors, such as recognizing the warning signs of a tsunami and the importance of seeking high ground, have been engraved in their memories. However, as we approach the 20th anniversary of the disaster, a new generation who either experienced it at a very young age, or were born after the event can benefit from these lessons that the older survivors have learned.
This year’s World Tsunami Awareness Day theme aligns with the , and the Summit of the Future, focusing on "youth and future generations." The activities planned for the observance aim to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami by passing on its lessons to a new generation of children and youth.
UNDRR is urging countries at risk from tsunamis to update evacuation routes, install new warning systems, and raise awareness among children and youth. They also encourage youth and learning institutes to and learn from the Stop Disasters online game to understand how to save lives during disasters.
Please join the conversation using the hashtags #GetToHighGround #TsunamiDay #AreYouReady24
In 2022, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) launched the campaign to promote awareness about reducing the risk of tsunamis. The campaign encourages citizens to participate in drills, runs, or walks along tsunami evacuation routes, which helps communities prepare for natural disasters and build their resilience. These events are inclusive and engaging, and they involve all people in raising awareness about reducing tsunami risk.
Tsunamis can be deadly, but they needn’t be. Early warning and early action are effective tools to protect people, saving lives, and preventing the hazard from becoming a disaster. To be effective, tsunami early-warning systems must cover every at-risk person, they must be multi-hazard, and communities must be prepared so they can act quickly.
Background
In December 2015, the UN General Assembly 5 November as World Tsunami Awareness Day, calling on countries, international bodies and civil society to raise tsunami awareness and share innovative approaches to risk reduction.
World Tsunami Awareness Day was the brainchild of Japan, which due to its repeated, bitter experience has over the years built up major expertise in areas such as tsunami early warning, public action and building back better after a disaster to reduce future impacts. (UNDRR) facilitates the observance of World Tsunami Awareness Day in collaboration with the rest of the United Nations system.
Tsunamis are rare events but can be extremely deadly. In the past 100 years, 58 of them have claimed more than 260,000 lives, or an average of 4,600 per disaster, surpassing any other natural hazard. The highest number of deaths in that period was in the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004.
Just three weeks after that the international community came together in Kobe, in Japan’s Hyogo region. Governments adopted the 10-year , the first comprehensive global agreement on disaster risk reduction.
They also created the , which boasts scores of seismographic and sea-level monitoring stations and disseminates alerts to national tsunami information centres.
Rapid urbanization and growing tourism in tsunami-prone regions are putting ever-more people in harm’s way. That makes the reduction of risk a key factor if the world is to achieve substantial reductions in disaster mortality – a primary goal of the , the 15-year international agreement adopted in March 2015 to succeed the Hyogo Framework.
What are tsunamis?
The word "tsunami" comprises the Japanese words "tsu" (meaning harbour) and "nami" (meaning wave). A tsunami is a series of enormous waves created by an underwater disturbance usually associated with earthquakes occurring below or near the ocean.
Volcanic eruptions, submarine landslides, and coastal rock falls can also generate a tsunami, as can a large asteroid impacting the ocean. They originate from a vertical movement of the sea floor with the consequent displacement of water mass.
Tsunami waves often look like walls of water and can attack the shoreline and be dangerous for hours, with waves coming every 5 to 60 minutes.
The first wave may not be the largest, and often it is the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or even later waves that are the biggest. After one wave inundates, or floods inland, it recedes seaward often as far as a person can see, so the seafloor is exposed. The next wave then rushes ashore within minutes and carries with it many floating debris that were destroyed by previous waves.
What are the causes of tsunamis?
Earthquakes
It can be generated by movements along fault zones associated with plate boundaries.
Most strong earthquakes occur in subduction zones where an ocean plate slides under a continental plate or another younger ocean plate.
All earthquakes do not cause tsunamis. There are four conditions necessary for an earthquake to cause a tsunami:
- The earthquake must occur beneath the ocean or cause material to slide into the ocean.
- The earthquake must be strong, at least magnitude6.5 on the Richter Scale
- The earthquake must rupture the Earth’s surface and it must occur at shallow depth – less than 70km below the surface of the Earth.
- The earthquake must cause vertical movement of the sea floor (up to several metres).
Landslides
A landslide which occurs along the coast can force large amounts of water into the sea, disturbing the water and generate a tsunami. Underwater landslides can also result in tsunamis when the material loosened by the landslide moves violently, pushing the water in front of it.
Volcanic eruptions
Although relatively infrequent, violent volcanic eruptions also represent impulsive disturbances, which can displace a great volume of water and generate extremely destructive tsunami waves in the immediate source area.
One of the largest and most destructive tsunamis ever recorded was generated in August 26, 1883 after the explosion and collapse of the volcano of Krakatoa (Krakatau), in Indonesia. This explosion generated waves that reached 135 feet, destroyed coastal towns and villages along the Sunda Strait in both the islands of Java and Sumatra, killing 36,417 people.
Extraterrestrial collisions
Tsunamis caused by extraterrestrial collision (i.e. asteroids, meteors) are an extremely rare occurrence. Although no meteor/asteroid-induced tsunamis have been recorded in recent history, scientists realize that if these celestial bodies should strike the ocean, a large volume of water would undoubtedly be displaced to cause a tsunami.
Social media
Help spread the message with visuals from the .
#TsunamiDay #GetToHighGround
Key Messages
- The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was the first global disaster of the 21st century and remains one of the deadliest disasters in recent human history
- After the tragedy, a global commitment to local resilience led to the creation of a tsunami early warning system benefiting 27 countries around the Indian Ocean basin.
- Globally, over 700 million people in low-lying coastal areas and Small Island Developing States are exposed to extreme sea-level events, including tsunamis (World Health Organization, 2019).
- An early warning system can be effective only when the population is well aware of tsunami risk and knows what to do in case of an emergency.? This means ensuring that at-risk populations have equal access to information and evacuation routes (UNESCO, 2022).
- We’re calling on governments and partners to act now to raise awareness of tsunami risk and implement policies and resilient building measures.
Resources
Related Websites
- UNDRR:
- UNESCO:
- UNDRR:
Documents
- General Assembly:
