World Tsunami Awareness Day

World Tsunami Awareness Day is celebrated every year on November 5 to increase awareness about the dangers of tsunamis and encourage preparation in case a natural disaster strikes. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, this day reminds us that effective early warning systems and community education are needed to mitigate the devastating impacts of tsunamis.

Significance and History

This was done to commemorate Inamura-no-hi, which fell on November 5, 1854, wherein a tsunami was declared to hit following an earthquake by Japanese farmer Hamaguchi Goryō in his observation of the signs of the calamity. During this instance, he burnt his rice sheaves to alert the other people of his village of the approaching destruction. In this way, an early warning concerning communities being prepared in the event of a natural calamity can be seen.

This observation targets the sensitization of communities regarding the risks involving tsunamis because it shows more than 700 million people live in tsunami-prone coastal regions. Today also focuses on further international cooperation that would globally increase tsunami preparedness since population density along coastal areas is also growing.

Historical Events

Some historical events underscore that tsunami awareness and preparedness are very important. Following are some key incidents of the lessons learned and response strategies:

1854 Nankai Tsunami, Japan

On November 5, 1854, a huge earthquake of 8.4 magnitude struck the Kii Peninsula in Japan, creating a devastating tsunami. Local elder Goryo Hamaguchi set rice sheaves on fire to drive villagers up the hills and away from the danger of the approaching tsunami. Many lives were saved, and his bravery became a piece of Japanese folklore. Today, the event is honoured by World Tsunami Awareness Day, reminding everyone of the need for preventive action in dealing with a tsunami.

2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami

One of the deadliest natural disasters in human history, the Boxing Day tsunami of December 26, 2004, killed over 230,000 people from 14 countries, while triggered by a gigantic undersea earthquake, 87 miles off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, exposed severe deficits in global tsunami warning systems. This disaster changed that. 

Chilean 1960 tsunami

This tsunami was caused by the largest recorded earthquake, measuring 9.5 in Valdivia, Chile on May 22, 1960, and it extended to the coastal regions as far as Hawaii and Japan. The waves covered a distance of more than 10,000 kilometers with devastating damage and more than 2,000 fatalities. This disaster led UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) to establish the first Pacific Tsunami Warning System, indicating a need for international cooperation in tsunami preparedness.