As the world marked World Tsunami Awareness Day last week, UN Secretary General António Guterres stressed the critical importance of early warning systems, particularly as recent disasters like the devastating floods in Spain demonstrate the increasing impact of extreme weather.
“This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami–one of the deadliest disasters in recent history. More than 230,000 people lost their lives,” Guterres said in his message for the day.
The Secretary General highlighted that approximately 700 million people worldwide remain at risk from tsunamis, emphasizing that the best protection comes through the UN Early Warnings for All initiative which aims to ensure universal access to life-saving alert systems.
Although tsunamis are rare, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) reports that they are among Earth’s deadliest natural hazards.
These hugely powerful wave systems–typically triggered by underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides–have caused more than 260,000 deaths over the past century, with economic losses surpassing $280 billion.
According to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UN scientific affairs agency UNESCO, tsunami waves can strike coastlines within minutes of a triggering event, traveling across oceans at speeds of up to 800 kilometers per hour.
Early warning systems have demonstrated success in reducing deaths and economic losses from disasters worldwide, with nearly a tenfold return on investment through lives saved and damages prevented.
“With human-induced climate change leading to more extreme weather and climate conditions, early warning systems are not a luxury but cost-effective tools that save lives,” said Guterres, launching the Early Warnings for All initiative in 2022.
Despite technological advances in disaster prediction and monitoring, significant challenges remain. Only half of countries worldwide report having adequate multi-hazard early warning systems to recent UN assessments.
The impact is particularly severe in developing regions, where climate-related disasters cause fifteen times more deaths compared to other parts of the world.
The UN’s Early Warnings for All initiative, launched in 2022, aims to lose this critical gap by 2027. UN News
The recent devastating floods in Spain, which claimed at least 150 lives, have underscored the crucial role of early warning systems.
While Spanish meteorological services issued numerous alerts, the disaster’s intensity revealed the growing challenges posed by climate change. The Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) issued its highest-level “red” weather warnings before the disaster, but the unprecedented intensity of rainfall–with some areas receiving their typical annual rainfall in just 24 hours–overwhelmed existing safeguards.
“As a result of rising temperatures, the hydrological cycle has accelerated. It has become more erratic and unpredictable, and we are facing growing problems of too much or too little water,” said WMO Secretary General Celeste Saulo.
The Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004 catalyzed global cooperation in disaster preparedness, leading to the creation of a warning system now protecting 27 countries. However, experts emphasize that warning systems are only effective when communities know how to respond.
“Education is vital to saving lives and as this year’s theme reminds us, the participation of children and young people is critical,” Guterres said, urging governments and partners in coastal communities to ensure populations understand evacuation procedures.
He concluded with a call for immediate action: “Together, let’s ensure people’s futures are not swept away by tsunamis. Let’s build resilience–now.”
