THE MONSTER TSUNAMI IS ABOUT TO HIT EARTH

Looking at a map of the Earth's tectonic plates can help you to assess whether a tsunami could hit your home. The Earth's crust is made up of platforms that sometimes rise up out of the seabed and move in relation to one another. The movement of these platforms can induce underground tremors. Occasionally, this movement can cause earthquakes.

The statistics show that 80 out of 100 tsunamis were caused by earthquakes in Japan and Turkey. Both countries are located in one of the most active seismic zones in the world. This year's earthquake happened at the intersection of as many as three tectonic plates

The Arabian plate is moving to the north pushing the Anatolian plate on which the larger part of turkey is located to the West after the earthquake in the Turkish city of Iskenderun. As seen in numerous videos, water has started to cover the streets of Iskenderun. If this magnitude earthquake had been even more severe, Turkey could have ended up repeating not only the scenario that shook Japan in 2011 but also the 2004 Indian Ocean disaster. This 9.3 magnitude earthquake is one of the three most severe earthquakes ever observed. The tsunami that followed it caused countless deaths and damage.

On a single day, a massive portion of the Indian and Australian tectonic plates ruptured, resulting in a prolonged earthquake that lasted for ten minutes. The wave energy from the ensuing tsunami was twice the cumulative energy from all the explosives used in World War II, including the two nuclear bombs. The maximum height of the waves reached 30 meters, which is nearly 18 times the average human height. The disaster occurred on December 26 and affected not only those who resided on the coasts of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Southern India, and Thailand, but also numerous tourists who were spending their Christmas holidays in warmer regions. Videos from that day reveal people praying for deliverance.

The mega-tsunami claimed approximately 300,000 lives, although the exact number of casualties remains unknown. Many victims were swept out to sea. If your city appears as a red dot on the tectonic plate map, indicating the potential for an earthquake, beware of the high risk of a mega-tsunami. Such disasters can also be caused by landslides, which displace vast amounts of water in the ocean, triggering a mega-tsunami. For instance, in 1958, an earthquake in Latuya Bay, Alaska, caused a colossal mass of ice and rocks to tumble from a height of 900 meters, resulting in the largest mega-tsunami ever documented. The wave was as high as 600 meters, equivalent to 352 times the height of an average person. If you reside in any US area encompassing the Appalachians, such a disaster poses a real threat to your city.

The Rocky Mountains, the Pacific Ocean coastal ranges, and some parts of Hawaii are frequently plagued by landslides. In general, any mountain or similar topography near a body of water, whether it's an ocean or a lake, poses a significant risk. Therefore, consulting a physical map of the world, which displays the various types of relief, is crucial. You should also take note of any volcanoes near your home or in the vicinity because volcanic eruptions can cause similar effects to earthquakes. For instance, a powerful tsunami followed the eruption of the Indonesian volcano Krakatoa in 1883, destroying 5,000 ships and claiming 36,000 lives. However, even if you live in a flat area with no mountains or volcanoes nearby and are not located at any point where tectonic plates converge, you should not become overly complacent.

Several specific factors can trigger an unexpected mega-tsunami, such as a large meteorite falling into the water or a nuclear explosion. If a bomb detonates underwater or close to the coastline, a tsunami will occur, and the wave will propagate in all directions from the epicenter of the explosion, causing significant damage to coastal areas. Therefore, no one is entirely safe from the potential danger. Now, let's assess the likelihood of surviving a tsunami. Let's begin with the most unlikely yet most hazardous scenarios. If a celestial object falls into the ocean, any attempts to escape the consequences will most likely be futile.

In fact, something similar occurred in the past, and the outcome was catastrophic for the Earth and all of its living creatures. Scientists discovered that 66 million years ago, the Earth collided with an asteroid, as evidenced by the massive 14-kilometer diameter crater discovered on the Yucatan Peninsula. Compared to this global catastrophe, all tsunamis documented today appear minor. The impact caused a 100-meter wave, which is 59 times the average human height, and the tsunami was as powerful as not just two or three, but a staggering 30,000 Indian Ocean earthquakes of 2004. Many dinosaurs drowned during this event, but that was not the only consequence. The moment of impact triggered the release of gases and soot that cooled the Earth by 25 degrees Celsius, a temperature that lasted for decades. As a result, plants withered, and the remaining dinosaurs perished from starvation.

In the event of such a catastrophe occurring again, it would result in another Ice Age, leading to the extinction of humans with no hope of survival. The possibility of a hypothetical tsunami caused by a nuclear explosion is equally terrifying. A nuclear bomb with a 200 megaton yield would generate a wave that is 294 times higher than an average person, surpassing even the prehistoric wave that wiped out the dinosaurs. What makes this scenario particularly alarming is that natural disasters can at least be predicted to some extent, unlike a nuclear attack by a powerful nation. If your country is at the center of such a conflict, your chances of survival will be very low. A landslide may seem less dangerous at first glance, but there are warning signs to watch for, such as leaning trees, tilted and cracked buildings, and changes in water levels in wells or other reservoirs.

In some cases, even experts cannot predict the catastrophic consequences of natural disasters, such as the one that occurred in Italy on October 9th, 1963. A massive landslide from Monte Toc mountain into the Vajont Reservoir, created by a dam, caused a wave to surge as high as 91 meters over the dam level, washing away everything in its path at a speed of around 100 kilometers per hour. The staff living nearby were quickly killed, and the wave devastated the town of Longarone, erasing it from the earth and claiming the lives of 2,000 citizens. The tsunami then reached San Martino, taking the lives of hundreds more. After the disaster, the engineer of the dam project, Mario Pancini, was summoned to court, but he committed suicide before his scheduled appearance.

As demonstrated, the situation becomes even more complex when human error comes into play. This means that your chances of survival do not solely depend on your actions. But what steps can you take to protect yourself from a tsunami? For instance, if you feel an earthquake in Japan, a common occurrence in the country's history, including the devastating 2011 disaster, you should be prepared. In 1993, a massive wave, caused by an underwater earthquake, hit the island and was the tallest tsunami in Japan's history, reaching a height of 30 meters or 17.5 times that of a person. Despite local authorities' efforts to prevent the tsunami with special barriers and issuing evacuation orders, the disaster claimed over 200 lives, nearly the entire population of the small town. In 2022, Japan was once again shaken by a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake, followed by a 30-meter-high wave that rushed to Fukushima. However, the Japanese learned from their bitter experience and developed an early warning system for earthquakes and tsunamis using data from 4235 seismometers throughout Japan. The government warned citizens to stay away from the coastline, saving many lives. Although the natural disaster claimed three lives, the toll could have been much worse without the warning system in place.

Estimating your chances of survival in an earthquake-induced tsunami is difficult because such cataclysms cannot be prevented, but there are measures you can take to safeguard yourself. However, the responsibility for disaster preparedness lies largely with local authorities, whose level of commitment is unclear. For instance, on January 23, 2018, at half-past midnight, the tsunami and earthquake warning system detected seismic activity in the Gulf of Alaska, with an estimated magnitude of 7.9. Since earthquakes of this magnitude usually trigger massive waves, authorities quickly alerted the inhabitants of the Alaskan coast to the impending disaster. A few minutes later, the frightened residents were frantically trying to find the nearest hill to run to, but it was a false alarm. As of today, only five countries have advanced global tsunami warning systems: the USA, Australia, Chile, India, and Japan.

As you have learned, the reliability of tsunami warning systems is not foolproof. While a false alarm was issued for Alaska, a real tsunami could be missed as waves in the open ocean can move at incredible speeds, allowing remote coastlines only a few hours before disaster strikes. In contrast, coastal areas near the epicenter of a tsunami-inducing earthquake may get flooded within minutes. Emergency managers have to make vital decisions about evacuation within seconds, and the actual evacuation process can take three to four hours. Therefore, countries at risk of tsunamis need contingency plans to reduce disaster risks. For instance, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology has developed almost 2,000 tsunami models to create a set of templates describing potential tsunami impacts caused by earthquakes of varying magnitudes and locations. However, even with the best strategies, nature can be unpredictable and surprising.

The 2011 tsunami in Sendai, Japan exposed the vulnerability of tsunami evacuation centers, which were damaged and unable to serve their intended purpose. To increase the chances of survival, it is essential to plan ahead for a tsunami emergency. Japan has taken measures to mitigate the risks of tsunamis, including constructing tsunami dikes in some coastal cities, educating children on how to react in the event of a disaster, and reviewing building construction regulations. Japan now employs ductile concrete structures with steel hoops inside columns and walls, making them more resistant to earthquakes and tsunamis. In contrast, poorly constructed buildings contributed to the high death toll in Nurdagi, Turkey, which was almost entirely destroyed in an earthquake, while the neighboring city of Erzen, with no damage or casualties, had implemented strict building standards. However, the rest of Turkey remains vulnerable to even minor tsunamis if it is not prepared for earthquakes.

There are multiple ways to address the problem of natural disasters and everyone can contribute to their country's preparation. Dedicated task forces around the world spend a significant amount of money on developing, testing, and implementing anti-tsunami protection. However, there are also infrastructure improvement options available for anyone to test through the city-building game, Cities: Skylines, developed by the Finnish team, Colossal Order. In this game, players can plan and develop their own green and safe city, including road placement, utility services, and public transport. What's even more interesting is that the game's Natural Disasters expansion allows players to simulate earthquakes and tsunamis to see if their city can survive. Flood walls in coastal areas were one of the most efficient methods that players have used to protect their cities. The game has been available since 2015, so players have had time to try out different safety measures and identify the best strategies.

In the game Cities Skylines, players have tested various safety measures to see if their city can survive natural disasters, such as earthquakes and tsunamis. One effective method was the construction of flood walls in coastal areas. Gamers tested this strategy and found that it helped to prevent water from crashing into the city. Japanese authorities have also considered using flood walls as part of their tsunami protection system, known as the orange line. However, constructing these walls can be very costly and requires thorough planning and reliable construction. Additionally, implementing these structures in real-life coastal areas may not be feasible due to their popularity among tourists and recreational activities. Despite the success of certain protection plans in virtual cities, they may not always be viable in reality.

In 2004, an accidental discovery was made in India when the Indian Ocean tsunami hit. Mangrove swamps, which are ecosystems of shrubs and trees growing in saltwater, were found to have slowed down the wave. These swamps also provide several benefits, including the protection of shores from erosion, the cleaning up of water and soil, and the conservation of biodiversity. The tsunami wave in India found more resistance where mangrove swamps were present, unlike the open beaches that suffered the most damage. If governments of countries with ocean borders ordered the planting of mangroves in coastal waters, the tidal wave during a tsunami could be significantly reduced. However, the issue with this solution is that any coast is a potential beach and tourist attraction. It is not practical to expect tourists to sunbathe and swim in the mangrove swamps, so there is no need to worry about your vacation by the ocean.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the impact of tsunamis, there is no guaranteed way to protect oneself from them, even in Japan. In the event of a tsunami, one should rely on oneself by preparing a go-bag, staying vigilant, and awaiting official instructions. Alternatively, one could lobby their government to improve their tsunami protection measures by presenting a proposal such as new construction standards or planting mangrove swamps. Perhaps you have even discovered a new approach to mitigating the effects of tsunamis, and you can share your ideas in the comments section.

Thank you.