Though it is rare, tsunami is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the world which can kill thousands of lives in just a spur of the moment. The deadliest tsunami in history happened on December 26, 2004 in Indonesia when the 9.1 magnitude earthquake struck the coast of Sumatra with an estimated depth of 30 kilometers and height of 50 meters, reaching 5 km inland.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake that generated the Indian Ocean tsunami is estimated to have released the energy of 23,000 Hiroshima-type atomic bombs. This phenomenon has caused an estimated US $10-B worth of damages and killed around 230,000 people.
In December 2015, the United Nations General Assembly designated November 5 as World Tsunami Awareness Day to promote a global culture of tsunami awareness. This year’s celebration highlights the theme: “Reduce the number of affected people when a tsunami strikes.”
November 5 is World Tsunami Awareness Day
