Tsunamis are the deadliest type of major natural disaster on the planet in terms of the proportion of victims killed. This high level of mortality explains why World Tsunami Awareness Day is being inaugurated on November 5, 2016. Mathematical projections undertaken for this report underline that the threat to human life from tsunamis is increasing at a time when substantial reductions in global disaster mortality (and the numbers of people affected)are key targets of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction adopted by UN Member States in March, 2015.
Tsunamis also pose a significant threat to critical infrastructure, including nuclear power plants and airports. These increasing risks demonstrate the need for a commensurate effort to reduce potential tsunami impacts.
