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| Sunday, 6 November 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Only some
earthquakes trigger off Tsunamis
Oh! Mighty sea We never thought that you will be so vicious Tsunami Disaster / Sea Surge Usually the sea is calm. Very pleasing .......... ......... But at times the sea could become extremely cruel. Tsunami is a disaster that might occur very rarely. But it could be very destructive. Special steps must be taken in view of its peculiar characteristics. There is no specified time for Tsunami to occur. A Tsunami could devastate an area about a kilometre or more from the coast. How does a Tsunami Occur ? A Tsunami can be caused by An earthquake in the seabed Eruption of a volcano in an Island A severe explosion including nuclear testing in the sea bed Disturbance or creation of a crater in the sea bed due to a meteorite or an asteroid hitting the sea bed A massive avalanche / slide occurring in the depth of the ocean or from the coastal area towards the sea Every earthquake does not trigger off a Tsunami. However, most of the earthquakes could create a Tsunami, depending on the magnitude and nature of the earthquake. What did we know earlier about a Tsunami ? We all know the legend of the sea surging inland during the reign of King Kelani Tissa which led to the sacrifice of Vihara Maha Devi to the sea. More recently, a Tsunami had occurred on 27th August 1883. It had been reported that the ruins of ship wrecks could be seen in the Galle harbour when the sea recedes away from the coast. How the sea monster surged inland.... Peculiar characteristics of a Tsunami: A change in the water level of the sea is visible. The most significant characteristic is the spectacular marked recession of normal water level as a massive outgoing tide exposing the sea bed, followed by a very destructive incoming Tsunami wave. People may get trapped by going to investigate the phenomenon of the outgoing tide and then being struck by the very destructive huge incoming wave that follows immediately. This had occurred during the 26th December 2004 Tsunami. Warning time can be very short. The velocity of the wave can be very high. The height of Tsunami waves which are low in mid-sea immensely increases on approaching the land. How water recedes into the sea Incoming Tsunami wave approaching the land People running to high safe grounds How is the Tsunami warning received? Steps will be taken by the Disaster Management Centre to inform the general public, through the Police, Radio Broadcast and Rupavahini telecast, no sooner an early warning of a Tsunami is received in Sri Lanka. However, in the meantime, the best early warning is vigilance by all concerned on the above characteristics and dissemination of information to all as quickly as possible and quick evacuation to safety. What items should be included in the emergency supply kits in each house in coastal areas? Day-to-day medicinal requirements in case of patients requiring such medicine (Regularly old drugs could be used and replaced with new ones in the supply kit avoiding drugs getting wasted). Required medicines and other things for elderly and disabled persons. Requirements of children such as milk foods, drugs, blankets etc. Important documents such as birth and educational certificates, deeds, identity cards. Items of jewellery and other valuables. Cash. Essential clothing. How to save yourself from the calamities of a Tsunami? Plan out with neighbours several evacuation routes to high ground. The main route might be damaged or blocked. In such a case, alternative routes may be used. Be always prepared to move out from low-lying coastal areas at once. Educate your family members, the neighbours about the adverse effects of the Tsunami and how to avoid it. Your visitors who visit the coastal areas. Your visitors to coastal areas should also be educated about the evacuation routes. Emergency supply kits should also be kept by them in readiness to be used in case of an emergency. A glimpse of the vast destruction caused by the Tsunami...... Published by the Disaster Management Centre, Presidential Secretariat |
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