World Tsunami Awareness Day

World Tsunami Awareness Day is an annual observance designed to raise awareness, promote understanding and encourage preparedness for tsunami threats worldwide. Endorsed by the United Nations, the day focuses on sharing knowledge about effective actions, policies and practices to mitigate the potential devastating impacts of tsunamis. Addressing and managing the risks associated with tsunamis is essential to reduce fatalities and promote resilient communities globally.

Initially proposed by Japan in 2015, the history of World Tsunami Awareness Day is rooted in the 1854 Ansei-Nankai earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit the coastal regions of Kii Peninsula, Japan. The United Kingdom's engagement in the observance centres on its role in international cooperation, including the provision of scientific support and expertise through organizations such as the British Geological Survey and the National Oceanography Centre. These institutions contribute to the global understanding of tsunami risk, benefit from shared knowledge, and help the UK to be prepared for the remote possibility of a tsunami affecting the British coastline.

In the United Kingdom, World Tsunami Awareness Day is commemorated through a range of activities such as public awareness campaigns, educational workshops, and expert-led discussions. These events are in line with the global aim to increase awareness and preparedness. For instance, the UK has hosted conferences on tsunami risk assessment, early warning systems and evacuation planning. In addition to these observances, the United Kingdom is a participant in the global effort to reduce the loss of lives and economic damage caused by tsunamis, as demonstrated by its endorsement of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. World Tsunami Awareness Day takes place annually on the 5th of November, a date chosen to honour the memory of the aforementioned 1854 Japanese Ansei-Nankai tsunami.