experience of tsunami essay

INTERVIEW: ‘Education has power to save lives,’ survivors say, ahead of first Tsunami Awareness Day

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Ahead of the inaugural World Tsunami Awareness Day on 5 November, two survivors of the most devastating tsunami in recent history – a Czech supermodel and a member of the Spanish family featured in the film The Impossible (2012) – have joined the United Nations’ commemoration of the Day.

“It’s like a concrete building, not water, falling on you,” Petra Nemcova, a 37-year-old fashion model and philanthropist, told the UN News Centre, describing the impact of the Indian Ocean Tsunami on 26 December 2004, which hit her and her partner in a bungalow on a Thai beach.

There was no warning, she said. In seconds, the bungalow completely crashed and there was glass everywhere and they were trying to hold on for dear life. She almost drowned many times, but after holding onto a palm tree for eight hours, she was found by a Thai man who risked his life to save the lives of strangers. Her partner was a strong swimmer but the power of nature was too strong for anyone.

Unfortunately, he was among the roughly 9,000 foreign tourists that perished in the disaster, which left more than 220,000 people dead.

In that moment, I didn’t have a choice. But now I have a choice to help children

“I’m happy to hear that finally tsunami has a dedicated international day to raise the awareness of the importance of early warning systems, education and preparedness,” she said, stressing that “the power of education is not just to transform lives but the power of education is to really save lives.”

She said that there is usually time to evacuate in the wake of earthquakes. The 2004 tsunami took two hours to strike Thailand. “In two hours, you can save your lives if there is an early warning system and enough education.”

“Time is of the essence here. There is no excuse for countries not to have an early warning system or education,” she said.

She defines herself as a supermodel, philanthropist and entrepreneur. Her tragic experience changed her perspective about life.

While holding on to a palm tree, she heard children screaming. She couldn’t swim and help them because debris was around her. After half an hour she couldn’t hear their voices anymore, which meant that they couldn’t hold on any longer.

“In that moment, I didn’t have a choice,” she said. “But now I have a choice to help children.”

In 2006, she founded Happy Hearts Fund (HHF), whose mission is to rebuild safe, resilient schools in areas impacted by natural disasters. “I’m happy to announce that we have now rebuilt 150 schools in 10 countries,” including Thailand, Indonesia, Chile, Peru, Mexico, and Haiti.

Ms. Nemcova said that tsunami awareness education should take place everywhere, not just in school, because everyone travels. She proposed “smart partnerships,” such as with airlines, which can introduce measures to warn passengers against disaster risks.

Tomas Alvarez-Belon, now 20 years old, was only eight, when he, his father Quique, mother Maria and brothers Simon, five, and Lucas 10, were staying at a resort hotel in the Khao Lak region of Thailand. All survived and reunited. The story of his family was portrayed in the film, The Impossible.

He was by a pool around 8 o’clock in the morning. “All of the sudden, the world started to shake, you don't understand what's happening. You suddenly see a black wall,” he told the UN News Centre. People imagine big waves they can recognize, but that was not the case. “A massive wall approaches so fast, and before you even understand what happened, you are being drowned or pulled into the water.”

When he finally resurfaced, “you don't see the world, you see people floating, people screaming, you see torn buildings. It’s hard to recognize reality.”

As for World Tsunami Awareness Day , he said “it is important that the world can not only mark an occasion to remember the victims of the disasters that have changed the course of history, and the course of many of our lives, but also to raise the awareness that we can prepare better and can avoid future deaths.”

“It's never easy to go back to the moment of a tsunami and what happened in the aftermath, but it is so important to get the message out,” he said, adding that he feels so fortunate to be able to share the story for a higher cause to fight for.

When he tells his traumatic experience, there are two key messages he underlines.

“First is the humanity of what we saw, how people helped each other anonymously – they did not have to be from the same country, from the same race, from the same religion. It was human helping human, and that is the core of my message,” he said.

It needs to be a movement that is born here in the UN and then spreads to Governments, and then from Governments to their people

“Second is that a lot of what happened on the day tsunami hit could have been avoided if the warning system had worked […],” he said, stressing that hundreds of thousands of lives could have been saved.

Evidently, tsunami changed how he approaches nature. When he goes to a beach, he thinks about what the tallest building is around there and where he could evacuate. “It's not a human instinct to think that way because when you are on a beach, you want to have fun,” he said, stressing the need for local authorities to make visitors aware of tsunami risk.

“People around the world look up to the UN as a voice of reason, impartiality and sanity,” said Mr. Belon, who is currently studying a B.S. in Science, Technology and International Affairs at Georgetown University. “It needs to be a movement that is born here in the UN and then spreads to Governments, and then from Governments to their people.”

“We want to see concrete actions and we hope that the UN is the place where those actions begin,” he said.

The tsunami experience has made him think deeply about what he wants to do with his life, how fortunate he is to be alive, how valuable each day is and how he needs to be dedicated to helping others. “At the core of it is the humanity that resides inside each of us,” he said.

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Author Interviews

'wave' tells a true story of survival and loss in the 2004 tsunami.

This Dec. 26, 2004, photograph shows a trail of destruction in the southern Sri Lankan town of Lunawa after tidal waves lashed more than half of Sri Lanka's coastline. Sena Vidanagama/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

This Dec. 26, 2004, photograph shows a trail of destruction in the southern Sri Lankan town of Lunawa after tidal waves lashed more than half of Sri Lanka's coastline.

On Dec. 26, 2004, Sonali Deraniyagala was vacationing with her husband, her two sons and her parents in Yala, Sri Lanka. The day was just beginning when she and a friend noticed that something strange was happening in the ocean. Within a matter of minutes, the sea had wiped out life as she had known it. In a new memoir, called simply Wave , she recalls her experience with the tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people, including her own family.

Today, Deraniyagala lives in New York. She says when she first moved there, she sublet an apartment in Greenwich Village for three months; five years later, she's still there. She never meant to live in New York; it happened almost by accident, she says, and so did her book. She stayed because she found a therapist who helped her deal with her devastating loss in the tsunami. He suggested that she write down her memories, which she did in the cozy loft area of her Village apartment.

"I've done all my writing up here," she says from her home. "And I can only write in New York, and I can only write on the corner of that bed. I guess it's a kind of place of safety for me and I needed to shut everything out. It's a cocoon."

'The Sea Is Coming In'

Almost 10 years later, Deraniyagala can now speak calmly of the events of that day in 2004: It was a sunny morning with blue skies and no wind. Her parents had not yet emerged from their room. Her husband was in the shower. She and a friend were watching her two boys playing with the toys they had gotten for Christmas.

Sonali Deraniyagala was born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka. She now lives in New York and North London. Ann Billingsley hide caption

Sonali Deraniyagala was born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka. She now lives in New York and North London.

"And she looked at them, and I think I told them off or something; 'C'mon, don't make so much noise.' And she said, 'Oh, they're so gorgeous. You know, I want to start a family soon.' And she was single. And she said, 'Oh, what you guys have is a dream.' And the next sentence was, 'Oh, my God, the sea is coming in.' "

At first it just seemed like a strange event, not a threat. But quickly they realized they had to get out. She and her husband grabbed the boys and ran. They hitched a ride on a jeep but soon it began filling with water. Her husband was sitting across from her, and suddenly she saw a look on his face that she had never seen before.

"I think he saw the wave when it was rising and when it was coming at us," she says. "The last I saw of Steve was that look on his face where he looked completely aghast, seeing something that I couldn't see. But I couldn't turn back; I didn't have time to turn back and look ... because that's when the jeep turned over and we were all dispersed."

In her book, Deraniyagala recalls what happened next, and what it felt like as she was swept into the great wave. She writes:

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Exclusive excerpt: 'wave' by sonali deraniyagala.

"Am I underwater? It didn't feel like water, but it has to be, I thought. I was being dragged along, and my body was whipping backwards and forwards. I couldn't stop myself. When at times my eyes opened, I couldn't see water. Smoky and gray. That was all I could make out. And my chest. It hurt like it was being pummeled by a great stone."

She thinks she was in the water for at least 20 minutes. At one point the wave bounced her up to the surface and she was able to grab onto a branch. She was the only one in her family to survive.

'All The Debris Of Our Life'

Eventually Deraniyagala made it to her aunt's house in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

"For months on end, I couldn't come out of the room," she says. "I was terrified of everything. I didn't want to look — I didn't want to look at the sun; I couldn't look at grass because I didn't want anything to remind me of our life, remind me of them. I wanted to guard myself against any kind of memory."

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After she started to get a little better, her father-in-law asked her to return to the site of the disaster with him. At one point, while they were looking through the rubble, he asked to be left alone for a moment. Deraniyagala remembers the scene:

"He stood there and he spoke out aloud to Steve and the boys and said, 'I hope you can hear me wherever you are.' And at that moment something fluttered — it seems very unreal to me — at his foot, and it was a piece of paper. He picked it up eventually. And [then] he put his glasses on and he read it, and it was the back of a report which was written by Steve. And that kind of really struck me. And since I found that, I went back obsessively looking for anything that belonged to us. Because until that point I didn't — I was really terrified of even seeing something of ours. But then I started going back, digging around looking for one of my boys' toys maybe we took there or something.

"Eventually, four years later, I went back to our home in London. And that was something I was convinced for four years that I'd never do. But at the same time I'd told my friends who were looking after the house not to change anything, to leave it. So there it was, just as we'd left it. My first reaction was, gosh, it's like we've just stepped out. You know, it's all contained within these walls, all the traces of our life and all the debris of our life."

Gradually, Deraniyagala came to understand that pushing away the memories and the physical reminders of her family would not help her overcome her grief. Instead, she has learned to embrace those memories, to draw light and spark from the life she and her family once shared.

Deraniyagala ends her book in a park at the end of her street, bordered on one side by a busy highway and on the other by the Hudson River. Going there sometimes transports her to another time, along another river, the Thames in London, with her husband and sons: The boys would be running by the river, and it would be drizzling, much like it is on this New York day.

"I'm more and more and more able to hold them both, [to] stand here on my own and then hold the feeling of us, more than the memory of us even — the images and the feeling of us being together by that river. It's another vista," she says. "I'm always kind of straddling two worlds."

Deraniyagala says there is no resolution to the grief she feels. But in writing about her family she feels she has memorialized them, and in a way that has brought them back to life again.

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Survivor Narratives: 2004

Du’s story of survival when the 2004 indian ocean tsunami struck.

A bookkeeper nicknamed “Du” worked at the Golden Buddha Beach Resort just off the coast of Thailand. At about 9 a.m. on the morning of December 26, 2004, she heard a thunderous sound in the direction of the ocean. Staff and guests rushed to the beach thinking that perhaps an airplane had crashed into the sea. When they arrived at the beach, there was no downed aircraft, only a thin white line along the horizon. 

They stood and watched in wonder as the white line drew progressively closer and grew in size. Finally realizing she was in danger, Du ran from the beach and managed to grab hold of a tree just before the water reached her.  “I was so scared that I wanted to cry, but I couldn’t… the wave hit me and took me into the ocean.”

“I tried to grab something to hold, because I’m not a good swimmer.”  Du managed to catch a floating cushion and held on for dear life. After drifting for about two hours, she saw two people floating on a big sofa, and swam to them.

Soon they realized that they were being washed farther and farther from shore. Knowing that if another wave came before they reached shore, they would probably all die, they began praying and swimming as hard as they could. 

Finally they reached the beach and helped drag each other from the turbulent water. Once on land, Du headed for a small hill known as Monkey Mountain. She was greeted by staff and guests who had also found refuge on the hill. Some were injured, all were wet and hungry, and many had witnessed their friends or loved ones perish. Together they spent a night of pain, grief and misery during which, in a strange irony, Du was attacked and bitten by a crazed monkey.

Rescue came on the morning of December 27th, when helicopters landed to evacuate the injured, while the others were taken by motorboat to the mainland. A total of four Thai staff and nine foreign guests died at the Golden Buddha Beach Resort.

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From Victims to Survivors - Tsunami Stories of Hope

Welcome remarks delivered by Asako Okai, UN Assistant Secretary-General & Director, UNDP Crisis Bureau at the World Bosai Forum UNDP, Tohoku University Joint Session

March 13, 2023

Raising awareness can save lives and livelihoods, particularly when it is linked to multi-hazard preparedness.

UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director, UNDP Crisis Bureau

Distinguished guests, ladies, and gentlemen,

Today, we gather on a solemn occasion, the memorial day of the Great East Japan Earthquake, to commemorate the lives lost and to celebrate the resilience of the survivors and their communities.

Together with our partners from Tohoku University, we honor the memory of these victims through stories of hope.

Japan has faced numerous disasters in the past, including earthquakes, typhoons, and tsunamis, and the country has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and expertise from those experiences.

And the lessons learned from the devastating tsunami caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake have been especially valuable.

One of the most important lessons is the crucial role of awareness in disaster preparedness and early action.

Across Asia and the Pacific, UNDP has been supporting schools and communities in tsunami-prone areas through preparedness plans and awareness campaigns to mitigate the impact of tsunamis.

Since 2017, we have been working with the Government of Japan to implement a regional project to strengthen school preparedness for tsunamis.

As a result, over 200,000 students, teachers, and school administrators from 450 schools in 24 Asia Pacific countries have been trained in tsunami preparedness and have participated in safe evacuation drills.

Awareness is the foundation of a comprehensive understanding of risks, which can enable early action and help reduce the devastating impact of disasters.

However, we must also acknowledge that we cannot perfectly predict when and where disasters, including tsunami risks, will occur.

That is why it is essential to be prepared for disaster risks every day, as we tend to forget about the risks of disasters and assume that they are far from us.

The voices of people who have experienced tsunamis firsthand remind us of how terrifying the risks of disasters can be, how important it is to prepare in advance, and how preparedness can save lives.

In today's session, we have esteemed panelists who are sharing their experiences and lessons learned from their tsunami experiences or from participating in training and drills conducted by UNDP. They are working to strengthen disaster preparedness, including tsunami preparedness, in their communities and schools.

Our Tsunami Storybooks feature the accounts of people who have experienced tsunamis and have passed on their knowledge to save others. The books are designed to raise awareness by capturing young readers' attention through simple words and actionable information.

Today, we are launching the 5th storybook, which features the story of a trip to visit the area hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake, where we met with people in Tohoku to listen to their voices and learn from their strength and resilience.

Disaster risk reduction requires a collective effort from all stakeholders, including governments, civil society, academia, and the private sector.

But above all – it requires us to listen and to learn from each other.

With joint effort and shared experience we can build a more resilient future for all.

Essay on Tsunami

Students are often asked to write an essay on Tsunami in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Tsunami

What is a tsunami.

A tsunami is a series of powerful waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of water. This usually happens due to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or underwater landslides.

How Does a Tsunami Form?

When the sea floor abruptly deforms, it displaces the overlying water, triggering a tsunami. The waves travel across the ocean at high speeds.

Effects of a Tsunami

Tsunamis can cause mass destruction when they hit land. They can flood cities, destroy buildings, and take lives. It’s important to have early warning systems to minimize damage.

Understanding tsunamis helps us prepare and mitigate their harmful effects.

Also check:

• 10 Lines on Tsunami
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250 Words Essay on Tsunami

Introduction.

Tsunamis, deriving from the Japanese words ‘tsu’ meaning harbor and ‘nami’ meaning wave, are a series of powerful water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water. They are known for their destructive power and unpredictability, posing a significant threat to coastal communities.

Causes of Tsunamis

Tsunamis are typically triggered by seismic activities beneath the ocean floor. These include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides. The energy released during these events displaces the overlying water column, generating waves that can travel across oceans at high speeds.

Characteristics and Impact

Unlike regular waves, tsunami waves involve the movement of the entire water column from the sea surface to the seabed. This attribute contributes to their long wavelengths and high energy, enabling them to travel vast distances. Upon reaching shallow waters, their speed decreases, causing the wave height to increase dramatically, often resulting in widespread destruction when they hit land.

Prevention and Mitigation

While tsunamis cannot be prevented, their impact can be mitigated through early warning systems, coastal zone management, and community preparedness. Technological advancements have made it possible to detect seismic activities and issue timely alerts, thereby saving lives.

Tsunamis, while a fascinating natural phenomenon, are a stark reminder of nature’s power. Understanding their causes and characteristics is crucial in developing effective mitigation strategies, thereby reducing their devastating impacts on human lives and the environment.

500 Words Essay on Tsunami

Tsunamis, often referred to as seismic sea waves, are a series of ocean waves caused by any large-scale disturbance of the sea surface. These disturbances can include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides or even meteorite impacts in the ocean. Tsunamis are not regular sea waves but energy waves, often caused by seismic activities beneath the ocean floor. Their impact on human lives and the environment can be devastating, emphasizing the importance of understanding and predicting these natural disasters.

The Mechanics of a Tsunami

Tsunamis are initiated by a sudden displacement of the sea floor due to geological activities like earthquakes. This displacement results in a vertical shift of the overlying water column, creating a series of waves that radiate outwards from the point of origin. The speed of a tsunami is determined by the depth of water, with deeper waters facilitating faster wave speeds.

In the open ocean, these waves may be just a few centimeters high, but their wavelength, or the distance between successive crests, can span hundreds of kilometers. As these waves approach coastal areas, the shallowing sea floor compresses the wave energy, causing the wave to increase dramatically in height.

Impact and Consequences

The destructive power of a tsunami comes from the massive amount of water that it can move and the consequent flooding. When a tsunami reaches the shore, it can cause immense damage to structures, erode beaches and embankments, destroy vegetation, and severely impact both terrestrial and marine life.

The human toll can be equally devastating. Tsunamis can lead to loss of life, displacement of people, and economic damage. The aftermath of a tsunami often includes public health crises, with the spread of waterborne diseases and psychological trauma among survivors.

Unfortunately, tsunamis cannot be prevented as they are triggered by natural geological processes. However, their impact can be mitigated through early warning systems, community preparedness, and intelligent coastal management.

Tsunami early warning systems, comprising seismographs and sea level monitoring stations, can provide critical minutes to hours of warning. This allows people in the path of a tsunami to seek higher ground. Community preparedness involves education about tsunami risks, evacuation routes, and drills. Intelligent coastal management can include the construction of seawalls, planting of mangroves to absorb wave energy, and zoning laws to prevent construction in high-risk areas.

Tsunamis, while a fascinating demonstration of the power of nature, are a sobering reminder of our vulnerability to natural disasters. As our understanding of these phenomena grows, so too does our ability to protect ourselves and our communities. The implementation of early warning systems, public education, and intelligent coastal management are key components in reducing the devastating impact of these ocean giants. Through continued research and community resilience, we can mitigate the effects of tsunamis and safeguard our future against these powerful sea waves.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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• Essay on Tokyo Olympics
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• World Tsunami Awareness Day: Essay for Students in English

This is an essay on the topic "World Tsunami Awareness Day," a day that resonates with the profound force of Tsunamis and the collective effort to understand, prepare, and unite. Whether you're seeking to grasp the concept or preparing for school projects and competitions, this essay is a valuable resource that you can refer to anytime, anywhere.

Essay on “World Tsunami Awareness Day”

“ Title: Riding the Wave of Knowledge: World Tsunami Awareness Day

Each November 5th , the world unites to honor World Tsunami Awareness Day . We reflect on Tsunamis, nature’s most powerful and unpredictable force. This day is more than a calendar marker; it reminds us of nature’s might and the need to collaborate to prepare.

What is a Tsunami?

Tsunamis are like ocean giants, but not the friendly kind you see in cartoons. They are massive waves triggered by underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides. These waves can travel across entire oceans and, when they reach the coast, they become towering walls of water, causing immense destruction.

November 5th: A Day of Remembrance

You might wonder, why November 5th? It’s not just a random date; it’s a day we remember as a significant event. Back in 1854, Japan experienced a massive Tsunami known as the Nanki Tsunami. This devastating wave caused a lot of damage and took many lives. This historical event is why the United Nations chose this date to raise awareness about Tsunamis.

Theme for 2023: “Fighting Inequality for a Resilient Future”

This year, World Tsunami Awareness Day has a special theme: " Fighting Inequality for a Resilient Future ." But what does that mean? It means that we want to ensure that everyone, no matter where they live or their background, has access to knowledge and resources to stay safe from Tsunamis. It's about being fair and making sure everyone has an equal chance to be prepared.

Real-Life Impact

Tsunamis are not just something we read about in books. They have destroyed many parts of the world. Take, for example, the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004. It was one of the deadliest Tsunamis in history, affecting 14 countries and taking the lives of over 230,000 people. This tragic event emphasized the need for a global early warning system, leading to the establishment of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System.

Building Resilient Communities

So, what can we do about it? It's all about building resilient communities. Resilience means being able to bounce back from challenges and disasters. It involves creating plans, early warning systems, and knowing how to respond. For instance, Japan, a country frequently facing Tsunamis, has one of the most advanced Tsunami warning systems in the world. Their well-practiced evacuation plans have significantly reduced the impact of Tsunamis on their coastal communities.

The Role of Education

Education plays a vital role in raising awareness about Tsunamis. Many schools teach students about the science of Tsunamis, how to recognize warning signs, and what to do in case of a Tsunami. It's like having a superhero team to help us stay safe.

Conclusion for Essay

World Tsunami Awareness Day is not just another day on the calendar. It's a day of reflection and action. It reminds us of the incredible power of Tsunamis and the need to be prepared. So, let's come together, learn, and work towards building resilient communities that can face the unpredictable might of Tsunamis. As students, we have the power to make a difference by spreading the word and being ready.

World Tsunami Awareness Day serves as a beacon of awareness and preparedness in the face of nature's might. It's a global call to action, a moment of reflection, and a shared endeavor to build resilient communities. 

Whether you're looking to understand the concept or gearing up for school projects and competitions, remember that this essay is a reference you can turn to anytime, anywhere. As you ride the wave of knowledge, let's stand together in the face of this awe-inspiring natural force.

FAQs on World Tsunami Awareness Day: Essay for Students in English

1. How does a Tsunami affect human life?

Tsunamis can cause widespread loss of life, injury, and damage to property and infrastructure.

2. Where can I find an Essay on World Tsunami Day 2023?

You can find an essay on the “World Tsunami Awareness Day 2023” on Vedantu’s website.

3. Tsunami information in 150 words?

Tsunamis are giant waves that can be caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides underwater. They can travel very fast, up to 500 miles per hour, and can be over 100 feet tall. Tsunamis can cause widespread damage and loss of life, so it is important to be prepared if you live in an area that is at risk.

4. What date is Tsunami Day celebrated?

The 5th of November is celebrated as World Tsunami Day.

5. From which language was the word Tsunami taken info?

Tsunami is a Japanese word. Tsu means port or harbor, and nami, means wave. 

The Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004 and Its Consequences Essay

Among various natural disasters, tsunamis deserve particular attention for the combination of their destructive character and opportunities to prevent human losses. An event that entirely transformed standard scientific approaches to this phenomenon was the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2014), it all started with a 9.1 magnitude earthquake near Sumatra, Indonesia. Although not resulting in significant destruction, it ruptured “a 900-mile stretch along with the Indian and Australian plates,” forcing massive ocean floor segments over thirty meters upward (Roos, 2020, para. 9). Combined with the ten-minute duration, such a quake caused a tremendous tsunami rushing across the Indian Ocean. It affected the entire region, with the heaviest losses in nearby Indonesia and several deaths occurring even in South Africa, five thousand miles from the epicenter (Roos, 2020). Therefore, this tsunami became a global disaster affecting millions of people and requiring a thorough review and identification of future preventive and mitigation measures.

The statistical data published by international researchers demonstrate the tremendous effects of this natural disaster. With 227,898 people dead or missing, it caused the highest number of tsunami victims throughout recorded history (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2014). The worst effects of the great wave were observed in Indonesia, where the death toll exceeded 160,000 people, and the overall damages almost reached $4.5 billion (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2014). The remaining fatalities were found all along the Indian Ocean coast, with the largest numbers in Sri Lanka and India. The total material losses were estimated to reach $10 billion (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2014). Entire communities were wiped off the map, thousands of houses and large infrastructural objects were destroyed. Moreover, ruined coastal facilities resulted in a significant impact on tourism, which constituted the primary income source for many states. Thus, this tsunami became the deadliest and most destructive natural disaster in the region for years.

The latest strategies aimed at mitigating tsunamis are vast; however, their implementation is complex and does not always guarantee the complete prevention of the disaster’s impact. The first strategy is concerned with the vertical evacuation of the population to the excising natural high ground or tsunami-resistant structures or special-purpose structures. The second strategy is the construction of structures that are higher than the expected height of tsunami inundation (Goltz & Yamori, 2020). The third strategy is concerned with excellent preparedness of the cities in communities, such as the adoption of building codes to address tsunamis, the moving of essential community assets and vulnerable individuals out of tsunami hazard zones, as well as planning for post-tsunami recovery. It is suggested to implement a global educational program, allowing people to identify the early signs of an incoming disaster, which be viewed as a measure to prevent human losses.

Nevertheless, despite all technological advancements, the generation and distribution of warnings still take time, and nearby areas can be affected in minutes. Therefore, straightforward advice to anyone in the coastal zone, feeling the ground shaking or seeing the water inexplicably receding, would be to rush to an elevated place and stay there until the wave passes. Because not all current prevention and mitigation efforts are fully effective, further research and development efforts are needed to address the challenge of the adverse impact of tsunamis on the global population.

Goltz, J., & Yamori, K. (2020). Tsunami preparedness and mitigation strategies. Natural Hazard Science. Web.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2014). December 26, 2004, Sumatra, Indonesia earthquake and tsunami – Tenth anniversary update. Web.

Roos, D. (2020). The 2004 tsunami wiped away towns with ‘mind-boggling’ destruction. History . Web.

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IvyPanda. (2022, February 28). The Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004 and Its Consequences. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-indian-ocean-tsunami-of-2004-and-its-consequences/

"The Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004 and Its Consequences." IvyPanda , 28 Feb. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/the-indian-ocean-tsunami-of-2004-and-its-consequences/.

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IvyPanda . 2022. "The Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004 and Its Consequences." February 28, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-indian-ocean-tsunami-of-2004-and-its-consequences/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004 and Its Consequences." February 28, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-indian-ocean-tsunami-of-2004-and-its-consequences/.

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IvyPanda . "The Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004 and Its Consequences." February 28, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-indian-ocean-tsunami-of-2004-and-its-consequences/.

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Essay on Tsunami for Students in English | 500+ Words Essay

January 1, 2021 by Sandeep

Essay on Tsunami: A sudden, unexpected series of ocean waves of high risen wavelengths are called tsunami waves. They are strong currents of water waves that rush through inland spaces, flood nearby areas and last for a long time. They are seismic waves that trigger landslide undersea and force themselves through any obstacle on their way. Large volumes of water are displaced at great transoceanic distances at high speeds.

Essay on Tsunami 500 Words in English

Below we have provided Tsunami Essay in English, suitable for class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

A tsunami is a series of fierce waves generated by the displacement of water. They occur in substantial water bodies due to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and underwater explosions. Tsunamis are also oftenly referred to as tidal waves. The waves are very high in magnitude as well as their length, and they can be immensely destructive.

Japan is the country which has recorded the most significant number of tsunamis. The tsunami generated in the Indian Ocean in the year 2004 is still considered as the most upsetting tsunami taking more than two hundred thousand lives. Tsunamis are quite rare in occurrence as compared to other natural disasters , but they are equally damaging.

Causes of Tsunami

The leading cause of a tsunami is attributable to an earthquake . However, even volcanic eruptions, landslides and comets or other heavenly bodies hitting the sea can be a source. When the tectonic plates of the earth positioned under the sea are disturbed, an earthquake takes place, causing the seawater to displace and erupt in sudden waves. These waves move further and further towards the shores. They can go unnoticed in the deep ocean but become more prominent as the water becomes shallow.

Landslides are another prominent cause of a tsunami. When heavy debris falls without warning with massive force into the sea, it causes a tremendous ripple effect. This ripple effect thus, causes tidal waves to form, which ultimately rise towards the land and cause massive destruction. During the eruption of a volcano on land, debris falls with a great thrust into the water body, causing the same ripple effect. Volcanoes can be underwater as well. They are known as submarine volcanoes. Tsunamis can further occur as a result of meteorological activity and human-made triggers.

Effects of Tsunami

When water washes away the shores with such colossal force, it damages the sewage system and freshwater. It also causes water fit for drinking to erode and contaminate. Because of the water being stagnant and polluted, numerous diseases like malaria affect a large number of people. They become ill, and infections spread quickly. A tsunami may even destroy nuclear plants which result in emittance of harmful radiations. These radiations are fatal to the health of every living organism. Mass evacuations become necessary in areas exposed to radiations because they can result in cancer, death and can even affect the DNA structures.

The saddest effect of a tsunami is the loss of lives in huge numbers. Tsunamis hit suddenly, with almost no warning and hence people get no time to escape it or run away. They drown, collapse, are electrocuted, etc. Tsunamis not only cause massive destruction of life but also degrade the environment in a gigantic way. It uproots trees and destroys pipelines which lead to the release of dioxides, raw sewage and other pollutants into the atmosphere. When these hazardous pollutants are washed into the sea, they also cause unbearable damage to the aquatic underwater life.

When the waves of a powerful tsunami smash the shores, they destroy trees, cars, buildings, telephone lines, pipelines and other man-made equipment into bits and pieces. Poverty rises in areas which get most affected by the wrath of tsunamis. The governments are also able to do little for their betterment immediately due to the high funding requirement and expenses.

Prevention of Tsunami

The government can invest in building strong and high protective infrastructure which can withstand the force of a tsunami. The length should be so tall, that the most upper wave of the tsunami cannot over top it. Also, heavy construction and livelihood activities in tsunami-prone areas can be avoided. The local authorities can install an efficient and fast early warning system. This would help to get all the people on alert. This way, more and more people would evacuate or leave the areas of danger, and human life destruction could be minimised.

Educating people and making them aware of the effects and impact of a tsunami is exceptionally crucial. They should be taught about the early warning signals of a tsunami and how to identify them. They should also learn how to be fully prepared in tough times like these instead of panicking and rapidly running around. Planting the coastal regions and boundaries with trees such as Mangroves which can absorb tidal wave energy can be another option. These can help to reduce the impact of a tsunami and curb the levels of destruction caused.

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Essay On Tsunami – 10 Lines, Short & Long Essay For Children

Key Points To Remember: Essay On Tsunami For Lower Primary Classes

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The word ‘Tsunami’ is of Japanese origin, which means harbour wave. A tsunami is the repetition of long-wavelength water waves triggered due to quakes and volcanic eruptions in ocean beds. If the earthquake fails to cause a tsunami inside the ocean, it will mostly cause a landslide. This tsunami essay for classes 1, 2 and 3 will help your child learn about new things. A tsunami essay in English will also improve ability to convert thoughts into words, positively impacting communication and vocabulary.

A topic like tsunami isn’t a very easy topic to write about. Children might need the assistance of parents or teachers to write about tsunamis. Here are a few key points to remember when writing a composition on tsunami for lower primary classes:

• Use videos or pictures while explaining tsunamis to kids. Visual aids help in better memorisation.
• Keep the content crisp and clear. A tsunami is a phenomenon that involves geographical terms. So, keep in mind to use simple language.
• Encourage your child to write their essay independently once the basics are covered.

What is a tsunami? How does it occur, and what is its impact? Get answers to these questions from the essay for class 1 and 2 kids on tsunamis. Mentioned below are a few lines on tsunami:

• Tsunamis are natural disasters that cause harm to the environment.
• It happens due to an earthquake underwater.
• These occur unexpectedly.
• Volcanic eruptions, plate shifting, the sinking of the earth, etc., are other reasons for tsunamis.
• The term tsunami means harbour waves.
• It has a series of waves with a high wavelength, capable of serious damage.
• The waves created in seas and oceans move towards the land and destroy buildings, homes, forests, etc.
• Landslides also lead to tsunamis.
• Most tsunamis often happen in the Pacific ocean.
• India experienced a similarly destructive Tsunami in 2004.

Do you want to read a short paragraph on tsunamis for children? Then, you are at the right place. Given below is a template for reference:

A tsunami is a series of waves of high wavelengths that cause water to move toward the land. It happens due to earthquakes whose main point is in the water/ocean. Greeks were the first to notice the effects of tsunamis. Sudden volcanic eruptions in the ocean beds, the sinking of the earth, etc., are the other major reasons for tsunamis. Like any other natural calamity, it causes widespread damage to human lives, buildings and trees. Underwater explosions can lead to tsunamis as well. The Pacific Ocean is known to be the hub of tsunamis. Ports and harbours get affected badly by tsunamis.

Looking for a simple-written short essay for classes 1,2 and 3 on tsunamis for kids to understand? Well, search no further. Given below is the template for the same:

A tsunami is defined as a series of waves of high wavelengths that cause water to move toward the land. It happens due to earthquakes whose main point is in the water. Greeks were the first to study the effects of tsunamis, and the only difference between earthquakes and tsunamis is that the latter happens in water. Tsunamis are called seismic waves. We should know that all seismic waves are tsunamis, but earthquakes are not the sole cause of all tsunamis. It also occurs due to sudden volcanic eruptions in the ocean beds, the sinking of the earth, etc. Like any other natural calamity, it causes widespread damage to human lives, public and private properties, and forests. Underwater explosions can lead to tsunamis as well. The Pacific Ocean is known to be the hub of tsunamis. During tsunamis, marine life is also get affected.

Natural calamities like tsunamis occur due to various reasons and cause damage to living and non-living. Here is an essay for class 3 kids on the causes, impacts and history of tsunamis.

History of Tsunami

According to legend, the Greek historian Thucydides suggested that there might be a connection between undersea earthquakes and tsunamis. But until the 20th century, knowledge of the causes and nature of tsunamis was limited. Ammianus, a Roman historian, characterised the sequence of events leading up to a tsunami as an earthquake, a quick retreat of the sea, and then a massive wave. The highest ever tsunami took place in a bay along the coasts of Alaska on July 9th, 1958.

What are the Causes and Effects of Tsunami?

Causes of Tsunami 

• Earthquakes and Landslides:  Shifts in tectonic plates cause earthquakes, and when the main point is in the water, a tsunami is triggered. Sometimes landslides induced by earthquakes lead to these tidal waves.
• Volcanic Eruptions in Sea Beds:  Volcanic eruptions in sea beds are another cause of these high wavelength waves.
• The Sinking of The Earth:  Changes in the earth’s crust or interiors often lead to the sinking of the earth, and this sudden shift can trigger a tsunami.
• Underwater Explosions:  Incidents like meteor collisions with the earth, or chunks of ice breaking off from glaciers lead to underwater explosions.

Effects of Tsunami

• Boats and Ships Sink:  The crashing of such high waves causes widespread damage to boats and ships off the coast.
• It Ruins Buildings, Trees and Houses:  Since the water moves towards the land and is of high velocity, it can destroy homes, uproot trees and displace vehicles.
• Causes:  As in the case of any natural calamity, a tsunami also takes a toll on people’s lives.

How Can Tsunami Be Prevented?

The effects of a tsunami can be reduced by avoiding inundation areas, slowing down water by building ditches, slopes, etc. and steering water to strategically placed walls or structures. An alert well ahead of time can also reduce the damage percentage.

How To Prepare for a Tsunami Disaster?

• To escape a tsunami, go 100 feet above sea level or 2 miles away.
• Often there are weather reports and cautionary warnings for a tsunami. Please take care to follow them.
• Every foot inland or upward is sure to make a difference!
• If you can see the wave, you are too close for safety!

Your child will learn about the causes, history and effects of natural disasters such as tsunamis. They will also understand essay writing and its ways better.

• The word tsunami means harbour wave in Japanese.
• The Pacific Ocean is the hub of tsunamis.
• The first wave of a tsunami is never the biggest.
• The series of waves generated by a tsunami is called a wave train.
• Often called tidal waves, tsunamis are not related to ocean tides.

What is the Difference Between Earthquake and Tsunami?

The major difference between an earthquake and a tsunami is that tsunamis are triggered by earthquakes whose main point is in the oceans or seas. And earthquakes happen on the land.

Topics like composition on tsunamis create awareness about natural calamities and the damage these can cause to humans. Teach your child about possible effects and help them learn new things.

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Successful Transition and Empowerment Program (STEP ) is a four-year program that introduces undergraduate students to important Wharton and Penn resources, fosters connection and community development, and helps members build skills to effectively navigate college, both academically and socially. 

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BGSU senior earns national award for innovative essay on AI in healthcare

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Paige Rothlisberger uses research to examine how healthcare leaders can prepare for AI-related innovation

#1 University in Ohio for Student Experience

Innovative engineering degrees, #1 public university in the midwest students would choose again for the fourth consecutive year.

By Nick Piotrowicz

As Bowling Green State University senior Paige Rothlisberger began researching AI in physical therapy for an essay, she thought there was too much to be said to focus on only one area of healthcare. 

AI has the propensity to usher in big changes, so the topic is something healthcare administrators should be discussing thoroughly across multiple healthcare-related fields, she said. 

During Rothlisberger’s research, she came to the conclusion that, even with the possibility of processes changing, one thing should remain the same: Patients have to be at the center. 

As with any new introduction of technology, Rothlisberger said patients’ needs are the most important consideration.

“The patient truly has to be your first priority, so that was a light bulb moment for me to realize that AI and patient-centered care have to go together,” Rothlisberger said. “Everything I read about AI was all about processes and streamlining processes, how we can make something more efficient. Really, it all boils down to whether the patient comes first.”

The conclusions Rothlisberger, a native of Arlington, Ohio, who is graduating at Spring 2024 Commencement, made in her essay, “AI Powered Patient-Centered Care: A Call to Action for Innovation,” resonated with healthcare administrators. 

Her essay won first place in the undergraduate division of the nationwide Richard J. Stull Student Essay Competition, after which she was invited to Chicago to speak at the American College of Healthcare Executives’ 2024 Congress on Healthcare Leadership. 

Rothlisberger worked closely with Dr. Phillip Welch, an associate professor in the Department of Public and Allied Health , to apply classroom learning to healthcare administration as she crafted her essay.

Welch said Rothlisberger’s curiosity helped her work through several drafts of what became an essay that was honored on a national level. 

“Paige, like most people drawn to a university, is intelligent and inquisitive,” Welch said. “But she stepped outside her comfort zone, took extra initiative to enter the essay contest and was rewarded for doing so. This experience taught Paige the value of taking a chance. 

“The essay competition made Paige a stronger scientific writer, reinforced the importance of consulting academic literature when faced with problems and honed critical thinking skills.”

Due to the broad nature of AI, Rothlisberger said one of her goals for the essay was to spur discussion about how AI can work in healthcare, as its implementation will not happen overnight. 

“It’s just so complicated because you can’t just implement AI and have it all figured out — there are a lot of things that go into it, so these are conversations you have to have,” Rothlisberger said. “I went into the essay knowing that AI in healthcare is going to be implemented in stages and it is going to be very important to understand the details in each stage.”

Rothlisberger said AI has many possibilities within healthcare, but one way in which it could truly help patients is to streamline options after a diagnosis to help cater treatment to a patient’s unique needs and wants. 

“When you’re diagnosed with something, you have so many different options,” she said. “Maybe you have the option of something less invasive, the medication route or maintenance. One of the things I examined was using AI to filter what a diagnosis might look like along with the patient’s preferences and previous data to get a more tailored outcome for the patient rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.”

Through completing the paper and attending the Congress on Healthcare Leadership, Rothlisberger said the experience affirmed that she has found her career path.

“I just felt really proud to be a future healthcare administrator,” she said. “It’s definitely a rewarding field where people band together and it’s not competitive. Everybody wants to help each other out because that means you all go back to help your communities get better outcomes. This really established for me where I was going.”

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Updated: 04/29/2024 11:36AM

Poll: Biden and Trump supporters sharply divided by the media they consume

Supporters of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are sharply divided across all sorts of lines, including the sources they rely on to get their news, new data from the NBC News poll shows.

Biden is the clear choice of voters who consume newspapers and national network news, while Trump does best among voters who don’t follow political news at all. 

The stark differences help highlight the strategies both candidates are using as they seek another term in the White House — and shed some light on why the presidential race appears relatively stable.

The poll looked at various forms of traditional media (newspapers, national network news and cable news), as well as digital media (social media, digital websites and YouTube/Google). Among registered voters, 54% described themselves as primarily traditional news consumers, while 40% described themselves as primarily digital media consumers. 

Biden holds an 11-point lead among traditional news consumers in a head-to-head presidential ballot test, with 52% support among that group to Trump’s 41%. But it’s basically a jump ball among digital media consumers, with Trump at 47% and Biden at 44%. 

And Trump has a major lead among those who don’t follow political news — 53% back him, and 27% back Biden. 

“It’s almost comic. If you’re one of the remaining Americans who say you read a newspaper to get news, you are voting for Biden by 49 points,” said Republican pollster Bill McInturff, who conducted the poll alongside Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt.

The trends also extend to other questions in the poll. There's a significant difference in how traditional news consumers view Biden, while digital news consumers are far more in line with registered voters overall.

More primarily traditional news consumers have positive views of Biden (48%) than negative ones (44%). Among primarily digital news consumers, 35% view Biden positively, and 54% view him negatively. Vice President Kamala Harris' positive ratings show a similar divide, while Trump is viewed similarly by news consumers of both stripes.

And although the sample size is small, those who don't follow political news feel more positively about Trump and independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and more negatively about Biden.

Trump’s lead among those not following political news caught Horwitt’s eye amid Trump's trial on charges related to allegations he paid hush money to quash news of an alleged affair from coming out during the heat of his 2016 presidential campaign and as he faces legal jeopardy in other cases that consistently make news. 

“These are voters who have tuned out information, by and large, and they know who they are supporting, and they aren’t moving,” Horwitt said. 

“That’s why it’s hard to move this race based on actual news. They aren’t seeing it, and they don’t care,” he continued.

Third-party candidates also do well with this chunk of the electorate — a quarter of the 15% who say they don’t follow political news choose one of the other candidates in a five-way ballot test that includes Kennedy, Jill Stein and Cornel West. Third-party supporters also make up similar shares of those who say they get their news primarily from social media and from websites.

But voting behavior among those groups suggests that Biden's stronger showing with those traditional media consumers puts him ahead with a more reliable voting bloc.

Of those polled who could be matched to the voter file, 59% of those who voted in both 2020 and 2022 primarily consume traditional media, 40% primarily consume digital media, and just 9% don't follow political news. (The percentages add up to more than 100% because some people chose media platforms across multiple categories.)

Those who voted less frequently were more likely to say they don’t follow political news: 19% of those who voted in the last presidential election but not in 2022 and 27% who voted in neither of the last two elections say they don't follow political news.

The NBC News poll of 1,000 registered voters nationwide — 891 contacted via cellphone — was conducted April 12-16, and it has an overall margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

Ben Kamisar is a national political reporter for NBC News.