World Tsunami Awareness Day (05/11)

World Tsunami Awareness Day was established by a UN General Assembly resolution (A/RES/70/203) in December 2015 at the initiative of Japanese representatives. This country, located in an earthquake-prone region, has accumulated significant experience in tsunami prevention and response.

By establishing such a day, the UN pursued several goals. One – increases awareness among citizens and government officials about the features of a natural disaster such as a tsunami. Another – development of practical steps towards preventing possible destructive and disastrous consequences from this natural disaster. This area, associated with the agreement on disaster risk reduction, began to actively develop at the UN in 2005 after the terrible tsunami of 2004.

The date for Day – on November 5 – was also chosen at the initiative of the Japanese delegation. This choice is related to the story of «Inamura-no-h» about a peasant who donated his property on November 5, 1854 to save the inhabitants of his village. He set fire to his harvest, warning the villagers of danger, thanks to which they were saved. After the tsunami, he took an active part in the restoration of the village.

A person has always lived with water, because he cannot live without it. She can be quiet and smooth, giving joy and peace, but her meekness can change overnight to anger, and then she can sow horror in her hearts. She can give, but she can also take. It always makes you remember that it is a – element, and woe to those who forget about it or neglect it. Flood, mudflow, storm – the most common water-related natural disasters a person has to deal with.

There is another natural disaster associated with water – tsunami – is a series of marine gravitational waves formed as a result of a large-scale disturbance in the sea water column. The word «tsunami» comes from two Japanese words – «tsu» (harbour, port) and «nami» (wave).

Unlike storm waves, this wave affects not only the surface layers of water, but also includes water mass in the ocean. The length of the tsunami is hundreds of kilometers. The speed of this wave in the ocean is over 700 km/h, exceeding the wind speed.

Wave height is not always a determinant of a tsunami. Sometimes the height of a tsunami in the coastal zone reaches several tens of meters, increasing its already destructive power, but sometimes this natural disaster looks like a series of severe tides, during which significant coastal areas are also flooded.

The main cause of a tsunami is underwater earthquakes with high magnitude (usually over 7 points). Not all of them cause the birth of a giant wave. However, the stronger the earthquake, the higher the likelihood of a tsunami. In addition to earthquakes, which cause tsunamis in more than 80% of cases, strong landslides, glaciers, volcanic eruptions, and meteorites falling into the ocean can cause waves.

Although this natural disaster occurs less frequently than the others and has a relatively short duration in time, this does not detract from its nature at all. And the nature of the manifestation of the tsunami – is surprise and swiftness, multiplied by the colossal force of the water mass, shaped as a huge wave and falling on the coastal areas of the land.

It is not for nothing that tsunamis are considered one of the most dangerous and deadly natural disasters. This is confirmed by statistical data. The bygone 20th century was marked by many devastating tsunamis: 1906, 1923, 1938, 1952, 1957, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1971, 1992. In total, there have been 58 of them over the last century. In the coming 21st century, the disaster reminded itself of itself as the most powerful tsunami known in human history. It occurred in 2004 as a result of a strong underwater earthquake of magnitude about 9 in the Sumatra region of the Indian Ocean. The resulting waves captured not only the Indian Ocean, but also the Pacific Ocean. 14 countries suffered colossal material losses from destruction, and the rest – Indonesia, Thailand, India and Sri Lanka. The number of casualties was about 230 thousand people. Exact figures have not yet been announced due to the fact that many of the dead were carried into the ocean.

Some scientists have noted a reduction in tsunami intervals over the past century, meaning there is an increase in the incidence of this natural disaster. In 2006, 2007, 2009, tsunamis were repeated again. In 2011, an earthquake in Japan caused another tsunami, killing over 15 thousand people, and among the most severe consequences was the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Knowing that the main sources of underwater earthquakes that cause tsunamis are located in the Pacific and Indian oceans, a warning system was created through interstate efforts. It includes seismographic stations whose task is to provide timely tsunami warning.

Activities by states located in disaster-prone areas aimed at creating a warning system in coastal areas are also important. Its extensive and centralized network should make it possible to timely warn people about the approach of a natural disaster and organize their movement to safe places. Of course, educating the population of tsunami-prone regions about signs of an impending natural disaster and actions in such a situation should also help reduce the number of victims of the disaster.

According to the UN, by 2030, about 50% of the world's population will live in areas prone to floods, storms and tsunamis. Investment in sustainable infrastructure, early warning systems and education is therefore crucial to saving people and protecting their well-being from future tsunami risk.

The General Assembly invited all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, other international and regional organizations, as well as civil society, to observe today in an appropriate manner and in accordance with national priorities in order to raise public awareness of the dangers of tsunamis and reduce loss of life.

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