EDITORIAL
Effective tsunami readiness requires linked action from officials and local communities
Today is World Tsunami Awareness Day. The catastrophic tsunami that occurred on December 26, 2004, affected 18 countries in Southeast Asia and Southern Africa, killing more than 2.5 lakh people in a single day. In India, it caused devastation in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and beyond. The Day is a reminder for us to assess whether Goa’s disaster management system is prepared to face vulnerabilities along its coastline.
The UN says that as coastal populations grow and sea levels rise, millions remain exposed to a threat that can claim lives and destroy livelihoods within minutes. Under the theme ‘Be tsunami ready: Resilience starts with you’, World Tsunami Awareness Day highlights the importance of individual and community preparedness. From knowing evacuation routes to practising emergency drills, everyone has a role to play, it says. The UN also says that early warning and early action are effective tools.
There is no denying the fact that Goa’s coastline is vulnerable to such phenomena, which are not limited to the beachfront. Goa’s terrain is defined by tidal rivers – the Mandovi, Zuari, Chapora, Sal and Talpona. Studies show that tsunami surges do not stop at the beach. Water surges directly into tidal estuaries, causing rapid flooding deep inland into riverfront settlements, agricultural lowlands (khazans) and port areas. In reality, the west coast faces significant seismic risk from the Makran Subduction Zone off the coasts of Iran and Pakistan. Dense coastal infrastructure across Calangute, Baga, Candolim, Colva and Palolem includes high concentrations of temporary shacks, water sports equipment and thousands of tourists who flock to the beaches. We also have Mormugao Port. Besides, offshore vessel moorings, fishing jetties (Malim and Cutbona) and river-based transport hubs face significant risks of physical displacement and disruption of navigational channels. Off Panaji, there are casino ships. A tsunami wave travelling across the Arabian Sea would reach Goa within two to three hours, leaving an extremely narrow operational window for mass evacuation.
India has done quite a bit on the tsunami front. Following the 2004 disaster, the Ministry of Earth Sciences set up the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre at INCOIS, Hyderabad. It can detect tsunamigenic undersea earthquakes within 10 minutes and provide advisories to countries along the Indian Ocean rim. The Disaster Management Act, 2005, formalised creation of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) and district units (DDMAs).
The Goa State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) must map specific run-up heights and inundation zones for every coastal taluka. Sand dunes act as Goa’s first natural sea walls. The flattening of dunes must be strictly halted, and coastal vegetation and mangrove clusters along the Mandovi and Zuari estuaries must be protected, as they could act as barriers, absorbing significant wave energy before it reaches settlements. Unfortunately, hardly a few remain; the rest were flattened long ago.
The government will have to formulate SOPs for beachfront sectors, including shacks, water sports and restaurants. Coastal panchayats and municipal councils need designated, pre-cleared inland evacuation corridors. Institutions along the coastal areas must conduct regular rapid evacuation drills. It is also important to conduct periodic table-top exercises and coastal mock drills in coordination with INCOIS and the NDMA. Mobilising youth volunteers across coastal colleges to assist with crowd management and route demarcation is equally important. Youth are key to building strong communities. With their creativity, digital fluency and adaptability, they are natural leaders in tsunami preparedness, the UN says.
In his message, UN Secretary-General António Guterres reminded us all: “On this World Tsunami Awareness Day, let’s take charge of resilience. By working together we can be tsunami ready – and save lives whenever the waves strike.”
