World Tsunami Awareness Day

Tags: Important Days

World Tsunami Awareness Day is observed every year on November 5.

Important facts 

• Its aim is to create awareness about this deadly disaster.

• Japan is credited with starting this day because of the bitter experiences of repeated tsunamis.

• According to the United Nations, there have been 58 tsunamis in the past 100 years, killing more than 260,000 people (an average of 4,600 deaths per disaster), more than any other natural disaster.

• The highest number of deaths during this period was in the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004.

• The theme of this 2022 day in Asia-Pacific is 'Early warning and early action before every tsunami'.

Background of World Tsunami Awareness Day

• In December 2015, the United Nations General Assembly designated 5 November as World Tsunami Awareness Day.

• The United Nations called on countries, civil societies and international bodies to share innovative strategies to increase tsunami awareness and reduce risk.

• The day was established on the suggestion of the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) countries which included Japan.

• The first World Tsunami Awareness Day was observed worldwide on 5 November 2016.

• This awareness day was organised in New Delhi in collaboration with the Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction 2016 and the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction in New Delhi.