Geological Hazards: Tsunami

Most tsunamis occur in the Pacific Ocean

because it’s surrounded by the Ring of Fire, where
the world’s most active volcanoes and earthquake
zones are located. A tsunami is a Japanese word
that means "harbor wave." It is a giant wave
caused by Earth's outer layer, or crust, moving
ocean water. For example, an earthquake or
a volcano in the ocean could cause a tsunami.
Tsunamis can reach hundreds of feet tall and
travel very fast. This means they can be
dangerous even for areas far from the coastline.
Tsunamis can be highly destructive and can wipe
out buildings.

This map of the

Philippines shows
locations of the most
destructive tsunami
events recorded in
Philippine history. We
have had around 90
destructive earthquakes around 40 tsunamis for
the past 400 years.
Tsunamis have affected our coastal areas at
eastern and western margins fronting major seas
and inland seas.
Tsunami is a series of large waves resulting from
the disturbance of sea water commonly due to
earthquake. The height of the wave could reach 5
meters or higher. The force of some tsunamis can
be
enormous as large rocks, boats, and other debris
can be moved inland and hurt or kill people.

Tsunami vs Storm Surge

A tsunami is a Japanese word meaning
“harbor waves”. A tsunami is commonly
generated by disturbances associated with
earthquakes occurring below or near the ocean
floor. It occurs when the earthquake is shallow-
seated and strong enough to displace parts of the
seabed and disturb the mass of water over it. In
addition, underwater volcanic eruptions and
landslides can also generate a tsunami.
 The increase in wave heights associated or
during typhoons (when there are strong winds) or
tropical cyclones are called “storm surges”.

Classification of Tsunami
Near-field or local tsunami
- Can reach the shoreline within minutes.
Far-field or distant tsunami
- Can reach the shoreline within hours
because it generated from other countries.
Tsunami Monitoring Agencies
 PTWC (Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)
 NWPTAC (Northwest Pacific Tsunami
Advisory Center)
Local Tsunami
When: 17 August 1976
Where: Moro Gulf
What: 8.1 magnitude earthquake, 9-meter-
high tsunami
Casualties: 3,000 people dead, 1,000 people
missing
Natural Signs of an Approaching Tsunami
1. A strong felt earthquake
2. Unusual Sea level change: sudden sea water
retreat (exposed sea beds – coral flats, fishes,
etc.) or rise
3. Unusual rumbling sound of approaching
waves (e.g., sound like that of a train)

Tsunami Preparedness and Mitigation, Response

and Rehabilitation
Preparedness and Mitigation (What to do before):
 Conduct school advocacy on tsunami
awareness, preparedness, and mitigation.
Regular tsunami drills should be conducted.
 Turn on your radio and other
communication devices to know if there is a
tsunami warning if an earthquake occurs
and if you are in a coastal area.
 Assign a focal person to monitor and observe
the water recession after an earthquake.
 Be aware of the tsunami facts. This
knowledge could save your life! Share this
 knowledge with your friends. It could save
their lives!
 If you are in school and you hear there is a
tsunami warning, you should follow the
advice of teachers and other school
personnel.
Response (What to do during):
 CAUTION: Move away from the beach
immediately, if there is noticeable recession
in water away from the shoreline.
 Move inland to predetermined higher
ground immediately and stay there.
 Stay away from the beach. Never go down to
the beach to watch a tsunami coming.
 High, multi-story reinforced concrete school
buildings are located in some low-lying
coastal areas. The upper floors of these
school buildings can provide a safe place to
find refuge should there be a tsunami
warning and you cannot move quickly inland
to higher ground. Local Civil Defense
procedures may, however, not allow this
type of evacuation in your area.
 Small school buildings located in low-lying
coastal areas are not designed to withstand
 tsunami impacts. Do not stay in these
structures should there be a tsunami
warning.
 Offshore reefs and shallow areas may help
break the force of tsunami waves, but large
and dangerous waves can still be a threat to
coastal residents in these areas. Staying
away from all low-lying areas is the safest
advice when there is a tsunami warning.
Rehabilitation (What to do after):
 Stay away from flooded and damaged areas
until officials say it is safe to return.
 Stay away from debris in the water; it may
pose a safety hazard to boats and people.
 SAVE YOURSELF – NOT YOUR
POSSESSIONS.

YEAR or Location of Major Local or

DATE Event Impacts Internation
al
March North Around Internation
11, 2011 Pacific 452,000 al
Coast, people
Japan relocated
to
 shelters.
The
violent
shaking
resulted
to the
leakage of
radioactiv
e steam
coming
from
Fukushim
a Daiichi
nuclear
power
plant
August Moro Gulf, Over Local
17, 1976 Philippines more than
(particularl 8,000
y Pagadian casualties
City, were
Cotabato recoded.
City,
Zamboang
a City,
Lebak in
Sultan
Kudarat.
Decembe Sumatra, An Internation
r 26, Indonesia estimate al
2004 of $10b of
damages
is
attributed
to the
disaster,
with
around
230,00
casualties
reported