World Tsunami Awareness Day 2026 Observed on November 5; Theme: "Be Tsunami Ready: Resilience Starts With You"

Why in the News?

**World Tsunami Awareness Day 2026** is observed globally on **November 5, 2026**, emphasizing individual and community-level disaster preparedness.

Key Features / Major Points:

- Theme for 2026:

- Theme: **“Be Tsunami Ready: Resilience Starts With You”**.

- Focuses on educating communities to recognize natural warning signs and master local evacuation protocols.

- Historical Origin & Date Significance:

- Designated by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in December 2015 via Resolution A/RES/70/203.

- Commemorates the 1854 **'Inamura-no-hi'** true story from Japan, where a village leader set fire to rice sheaves to alert and evacuate villagers ahead of a destructive tsunami.

- Global Coordinating Bodies:

- Jointly led by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (**UNDRR**) and UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (**UNESCO-IOC**).

- Recognized Natural Warning Indicators:

- Severe or long-lasting ground shaking.

- Sudden, unusual rise or rapid retreat of sea water.

- A distinct, loud roaring sound originating from the ocean.

- India's Tsunami Early Warning Mechanism:

- India operates its national monitoring system through the **Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC)** located at **INCOIS (Hyderabad)**, set up following the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.

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Static GK Facts:

- INCOIS (Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services):

- Established: **1999** | Headquarters: **Hyderabad, Telangana** | Nodal Ministry: **Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)**.

- Etymology of Tsunami:

- A Japanese word meaning **"Harbour Wave"** ("tsu" = harbour, "nami" = wave), primarily triggered by undersea earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic eruptions.

- UNDRR (UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction):

- Established: **1999** | Headquarters: **Geneva, Switzerland**.

One-Liner Quiz (All Competitive Exams):

Q: On which date is World Tsunami Awareness Day observed globally every year?

A: November 5

Q: What is the theme for World Tsunami Awareness Day 2026?

A: "Be Tsunami Ready: Resilience Starts With You"

Q: Where is India's Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) headquartered?

A: INCOIS, Hyderabad (Telangana)

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