World Tsunami Awareness Day

Though they may be rare, tsunamis are among the most devastating natural disasters. They know no coastal borders. Coastal communities – often concentrated in low-lying and highly populated areas – are the most potentially vulnerable to coastal hazards including tsunamis, with heavy human and economic losses. International cooperation is key for deeper political and public understanding; as well as involvement in reducing our risks from these coastal natural hazards.

In December 2015, the United Nations General Assembly designated 5 November as World Tsunami Awareness Day to promote a global culture of tsunami awareness.

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO works to coordinate national and regional tsunami early warning services, raising global awareness about effective actions, policies and practices to reduce exposure to disaster risk through its four Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Systems for the Pacific, Indian Ocean, Caribbean, and North-Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean and Connected Sea regions. The IOC also assists Member States through education programmes and regular tsunami communication and evacuation exercises, increasing the coordination, readiness for and understanding of tsunamis among citizens and communities around the world.

The 2021 edition of the World Tsunami Awareness Day (WTAD) will be jointly organized by UNDRR and UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, in collaboration with other UN and external partners and under the sponsorship of the Government of Japan.

The 2021 WTAD will be structured around multiple events taking place around the world. Click here to discover a complete list of events. 

Tsunami Information Centers:

• International Tsunami Information Center (ITIC)

• Caribbean Tsunami Information Center (CTIC)

• Indian Ocean Tsunami Information Center (IOTIC)

• North-Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean and Connected Seas Tsunami Information Centre (NEAMTIC)

Publications:

• IOC/UNESCO Symposium on Advances in Tsunami Warning to Enhance Community Responses, 12–14 February 2018, Paris; Summary Statement

• Tsunami Glossary, Third Edition, IOC Technical Series, 85

• Remembering the 1945 Makran Tsunami; Interviews with Survivors Beside the Arabian Sea

• All publications (UNESDOC)

More Interaction:

• The TsunamiZone

• Stop Disasters! A Disaster Simulation Game

• Education Material

• Documentary movie: Tsunami Ladies

Other:

• Official WTAD Page  

• All Commemorations

• Previous commemorations : 2017 - 2016