Original title: 58 tsunamis killed 260000 people, UN calls on all countries to improve disaster prevention capacity
According to the United Nations, 58 tsunamis in the past 100 years have killed more than 260000 people, sihai.com reported. November 5 is "world tsunami Awareness Day", UN Secretary General Guterres issued a statement saying that the importance of key infrastructure to prevent disasters such as tsunamis has not been fully recognized, calling on all countries to improve their disaster prevention capabilities.
According to reports, 58 tsunamis in the past 100 years have claimed more than 260000 lives, more than any other natural disaster, according to UN data. The most deadly was the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004, which affected 14 countries and killed about 227000 people. Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand were the hardest hit.
2019 marks the 15th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami. Guterres said that since the Indian Ocean tsunami, the early warning systems in the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean have been greatly improved, saving millions of lives.
But he also said: 'it is clear from the increasing economic losses over the past two decades that we have not fully recognized the importance of critical infrastructure for disaster prevention. These facilities are essential to avoid possible major public service interruptions during tsunamis, earthquakes and extreme weather events. '
He stressed that the risk of disasters remained huge, with an estimated 700 million people living in low-lying coastal areas; by 2050, the number could exceed 1 billion. At the same time, sea level rise caused by climate emergency may further aggravate the destructive power of tsunami.
Guterres encourages Governments, local authorities and the construction industry to seek development based on an understanding of risks and to enhance their resilience to disasters. He also called on all countries to take measures quickly to prevent global warming.