• Source:JND
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World's Deadliest Tsunamis In History: The far-east region of Russia on Wednesday morning witnessed one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded, triggering Tsunami waves across the Kamchatka peninsula. Tsunami waves also hit Japan in the east and Alaska in the west. Warnings have also been issued in North and Central America and Pacific islands south toward New Zealand, with officials warning that the potential tsunami danger may last for more than a day.

The tsunami waves, up to 4 meters in height, caused damage to buildings and prompted evacuations from the coastal regions of Japan and the north-eastern parts of the US. In a video posted on Telegram, Governor of Kamchatka, Vladimir Solodov, said, "Today's earthquake was serious and the strongest in decades of tremors."

US President Donald Trump also urged people to stay updated by visiting tsunami.gov. "Due to the massive earthquake in the Pacific Ocean, a tsunami warning has been issued in Hawaii. Alaska and the Pacific coastal areas of America are under surveillance. Japan is also in danger," he wrote in his X post.

The Kamchatka region is known for seismic activity as it is located on the “Pacific Ring of Fire”. This is an area where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur frequently due to the movement of tectonic plates. According to the Russian news agency TASS, several people have been injured in Kamchatka following the earthquake. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, a tsunami wave about 1 foot reached Nemuro on the Eastern coast of Hokkaido.

What Is a Tsunami?

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the US, a Tsunami is a series of large ocean waves. These waves are created when a large amount of ocean water suddenly shifts from its place. This is often due to earthquakes occurring under the ocean. These waves spread in all directions from the epicentre and sometimes cross the entire ocean. Unlike the waves created by wind, which occur only on the surface, in a tsunami, the water of the entire depth of the ocean, i.e. from the bottom to the surface, moves simultaneously.

How Tsunamis Are Triggered?

Most tsunamis occur when the Earth's tectonic plates beneath the ocean collide and cause an earthquake. Since 1900, more than 80 per cent of tsunamis have been caused by earthquakes. However, tsunamis can also be triggered by other causes, such as landslides, volcanic eruptions, certain weather events, or a space object (such as an asteroid) falling into the ocean, as cited in the National Centre for Environmental Information.

List of Most Destructive Tsunamis in The World

Tōhoku Tsunami: On March 11, 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit Japan, triggering massive tsunami waves across its coastal regions. The earthquake, which hit Tohoku, caused severe damage to the north-eastern part of Japan, and also triggered the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. The disaster caused major economic losses to Japan and also damaged nuclear energy plants.

Indian Ocean Tsunami: On December 26, 2004, the most devastating tsunami in history, with a magnitude of 9.1-9.3, struck the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean Tsunami affected Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India and many other countries. Entire communities were swept away in this tsunami.

According to the International Recover Platform, the damage during the disaster revealed staggering numbers in which human fatalities were approximately 220,000 and 139,000 houses were destroyed. Agricultural land of 73,869 hectares, 2,618 kilometers of roads, 3,415 schools, 104,500 small-medium enterprises, 13,828 fishing boats, 119 bridges, 669 government buildings, 517 health facilities, 1,089 worship places, 22 seaports, and 8 airports and many were lost their livelihood.

Iranian Tsunami: On December 26, 2003, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.6 hit the Baam district of Southern Iran, causing a tsunami over the coast of Iran, which devastated Baam and nearby areas.

Valdivia Tsunami: On May 22, 1960, the Valdivia earthquake, also known as the Great Chilean Earthquake, occurred, which is included in the list of the most powerful earthquakes. The magnitude of this earthquake was 9.5. The tsunami caused by the earthquake affected Chilli and spread to the Pacific Ocean, whose effect was felt even in distant areas like Hawaii and Japan, where deaths occurred.

According to National Geographic, in the Valdivia tsunami, at least 3000 people were injured, and approximately 1655 people died. Also, two million people became homeless during this disaster.

Kamchatka Tsunami: On November 4, 1952, an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0 struck Kamchatka, Russia, resulting in a tsunami affecting the Pacific Ocean and causing massive damage to the region.

Messina Tsunami: On December 28, 1908, the deadliest tsunami in European history struck, killing 123,000 people. The event was caused by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck the Messina Peninsula, between the mainland of Sicily and Italy.

Sanriku Tsunami: On June 15, 1896, a magnitude 8.5 earthquake in Sanriku, Japan, triggered a massive tsunami that caused massive destruction. Many people died in this tragedy. The event is often remembered for its enormous scale and its impact on the local population.

Arica Tsunami: On August 13, 1868, a powerful magnitude 8.5 earthquake off the coast of Peru triggered a tsunami that devastated coastal towns in Peru and Chile, especially Arica (now in Chile). Waves are reported to have reached Hawaii.

Calabria Tsunami: In March 1783, an earthquake of approximately magnitude 7.9 struck southern Italy, triggering a tsunami along the coast of Calabria. This resulted in heavy flooding and an estimated 50,000 deaths in the affected areas.

Lisbon Tsunami: On November 1, 1755, following the Lisbon earthquake, a devastating tsunami struck Portugal and its colonies. The tsunami, estimated at magnitude 8.5–9.0, devastated Lisbon and other Portuguese coastal cities, resulting in approximately 10,000–100,000 deaths.