Tsunamis do not happen often but when they do, the destruction is unimaginable. Any mention of tsunamis brings back the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
On this Tsunami Awareness Day, it is worth looking back at the tragedy caused by the ocean turning against people. A massive 9.1 earthquake struck the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, sending waves across the Indian Ocean. The devastation reached 14 countries in total.
The Silent Beginning
Tsunamis originate deep underwater, where powerful earthquakes are hardly felt and often undetectable, and there was no warning system in place, leaving authorities unaware. As the waves approach the coast they slow down, resulting in getting taller and massive destructive walls of water.
In the 2004 tsunami, the main cause was an earthquake, but climate change has also left coastal regions vulnerable to natural disaster. Contributors can be glacier melting leading to warming of oceans which leads to a rise in sea level, which in the case of tsunami waves, travel further inland.
These changes weaken the defense by slow erosion of coastlines. All the above mentioned can shift geological conditions and disrupt the ecosystem.
Read More: 7.5-Magnitude Quake Jolts Philippines, Tsunami Warnings Issued
The Aftermath
The aftereffect of this disaster was massive and devastating. The authorities were not able to manage the debris and toxic waste. Hasty and improper dumping and burning of waste caused secondary damage to the environment. Saline water contamination with freshwater sources affected the soil fertility and reduced crop yielding.
Around 220,000 people lost their lives and millions were left homeless and displaced. The same ocean that provided livelihood took millions of lives as the backbone of many coastal economies is fishery, tourism and agriculture.
Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand faced massive infrastructure destruction, leading to unemployment and extending poverty.
A Global Wake-Up Call
The 2004 tsunami was a wake-up call for the international community. It turned the focus towards global disaster awareness. Some major responses are the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) established World Tsunami Awareness Day on November 6.
Campaigns like #GetToHighGround and the Tsunami Ready Program now help coastal communities across the world prepare for such emergencies. These initiatives encourage governments and locals to plan evacuation routes, conduct drills and raise awareness about early warning signs.
The unpredictable disaster showed that there’s only so much that institutions and governments can do. The real change begins with people, as Ahmadi a resident of Indonesia, shared that wisdom passed through generations. An old folk tale that warns children to shift to higher ground if the water recedes.
Read More: Tsunami Alerts Issued Across Pacific Ocean After Russia’s Massive 8.8 Earthquake
A village once sank,
That’s how they tell the tale,
It began with an earthquake,
Followed by a massive wave,
The entire land submerged,
Suddenly, just like that.
If the quake is strong
And the waters recede,
Quickly find a higher place to be.
That is called smong,
The history of our ancestors.
Remember this well.
He believed that preparation should become second nature. This actually showed that in the modern era, there is a need to reconnect with your roots.
The power is in the hands of the Youth. If ten-year-old Tilly Smith from Thailand can save 100 people from just a lesson taught in school, so can the rest. Youth needs to take initiative in the form of webinars, sessions and workshops to raise awareness. The access of digital platforms have reached communities in the far lands so why not give it a try to save at least 100 lives if a disaster like this occurs.
The memory of 2004 continues to remind us that prevention begins with knowledge. Among the crowd, many people are unaware that a specific Day is allocated to raise awareness on tsunamis and their effects. So let’s take this as a reminder to raise awareness and to be prepared for this unexpected disaster. Because there is still time to learn and aware others.
Established in December 2008, The Diplomatic Insight is Pakistan’s premier diplomacy and foreign affairs magazine, available in both digital and print formats.
