What is tsunami

A tsunami is one of the most powerful and feared natural disasters. It is a large and destructive water wave, which has enough energy to destroy an entire coastal community in moments. Seismic events such as earthquakes or volcanic eruptions are the most common cause of tsunamis, but the impact of cosmic bodies, such as meteorites, can also generate the formidable waves.

The word tsunamis a Japanese word, represented by two characters. Tsu, meaning. "harbour," and nami meaning, "wave." Although tsunamis are often referred to as tidal waves, this is not true. The gravitational effects of the moon, sun and planets generate tides, and tsunamis are not connected to tides.

A tsunami may be 100 kilometres fong and can travel more than 640 kilometres per hour. The force of a tsunami as it reaches shore is enormous, and it will continue to travel until its energy is completely dissipated. This means that it may travel inland several hundred feet. carrying with it boats, large rocks, and other heavy debris. All low-lying coastal areas are vulnerable to tsunami attack

An earthquake 19 kilometres offshore that registered 7.0 on the Richter scale generated the tsunami that devastated the North-western coast of Papua New Guinea on July 17, 1998, Three waves measuring more than 23 feet high struck a 28 kilometer stretch of coastline within six minutes of the earthquake. Three coastal villages were swept completely clean by the deadly attack and nothing but sand remained. The death toll due to this tsunami reached more than 1,200 and most of victims were the elderly and children.