Boxing Day – December 26, 2004, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck the coast of Indonesia, triggering a massive tsunami that swept through the Indian Ocean.
Waves as high as 51 meters (167 feet) flooded communities in Aceh.Flooding occurred up to 5 kilometers (3 miles) into Indonesia.
that ruins Spread across Thailand, Sri Lanka, Maldives and India, tsunami waves travel at speeds of 800 kilometers per hour (500 miles per hour).. The impact extended as far as Somalia and Tanzania, with waves reaching Mexico, Chile and even the Arctic.
In addition to the loss of life, more than 1.7 million people were displaced and economic damage amounted to approximately $10 billion. Children were particularly affected, with thousands killed or orphaned.
A wake-up call for humanity
Philémon Yang, President of the UN General Assembly, described the tsunami:It is the first global disaster of the 21st century and one of the most destructive disasters in recent history.”
He urged countries to reaffirm their commitment to protecting future generations and to integrate disaster preparedness and resilience into sustainable development strategies.
Kamal Kishore, the United Nations Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, called the tsunami “a wake-up call for humanity.”
“It showed how these low-frequency, high-impact risks can occur. Impacts that will ripple across the entire global system and across multiple regions“He said.
Development through global collaboration
The tragedy also spurred unprecedented global cooperation.
“After the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, It has become clear that transboundary problems require solutions that reach across borders.” emphasized Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Secretary-General of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
In the two decades since the tragedy, the international community has worked together to make significant progress in disaster preparedness.
In 2005, countries under the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) came together to establish the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS). Currently, 27 national tsunami warning centers can issue warnings within minutes of an earthquake.
According to the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), more than 75% of coastal communities in high-risk areas now have access to tsunami early warning information, up from just 25% in 2004.
Additionally, UN initiatives such as the Tsunami Ready Program and the Tsunami Project continue to empower local leaders and communities with life-saving knowledge and resources. Likewise, the Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness is developing a critical early warning system for everyone.
Increased risk due to climate change
But the challenges have also become more complex.
Climate change is amplifying the frequency and severity of water-related disasters, often triggering and compounding geophysical events such as earthquakes and volcanoes.
ESCAP estimates that 68 million people in 43 countries in Asia and the Pacific and $2.3 trillion worth of infrastructure built along the coasts remain at serious risk. In the Indian Ocean basin alone, more than 2,600 educational facilities, 1,200 ports, and 140 power plants are vulnerable.
we need to do more
Mr. Kishore emphasized the need for continuous awareness and preparedness.
“We must continue to raise awareness of tsunami risk,” he said.
“It is important that we do not forget the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and continue to do all we can to protect ourselves, our children and future generations from the effects of future tsunamis.”
