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On the morning of 26 December 2004, Srikumar, a fisherman from Kerala, was at sea, preparing for a routine day of fishing. But as he worked, he noticed strange anomalies in the signals coming from the echo sounder. “The ocean currents were unusually strong, making it nearly impossible to retrieve my fishing net. I knew something was wrong. I anchored my boat near an estuary, and struggling, returned to the shore through turbulent waters. By the timeI arrived, devastation had already struck. Houses were empty, residents were gone, and others stood by, trying to make sense of the chaos,” he said, recounting the incident.

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami hit 14 countries across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, claiming over 230,000 lives worldwide and leaving a trail of destruction. Twenty years later, the pain of the loss remains, but it is accompanied by a story of progress and resilience.

India, a country profoundly affected by the 2004 tsunami, has significantly strengthened its disaster preparedness through scientific advancements, early warning systems, and community-led initiatives. Today, India’s early warning system stands as one of the most credible in the world, providing support not only domestically but to several countries across the Asia-Pacific region, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Thailand. These advancements, along with international partnerships such as the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanic Commission (IOC) that facilitate global knowledge-sharing, have helped the country reduce response times and enhanced its ability to predict and manage tsunami threats.

At the heart of this transformation is the Tsunami Ready Programme, an initiative by UNESCO-IOC aimed at building community resilience. In Odisha’s Kendrapara district, villages like Kaitha and Rajnagar became models of tsunami and cyclone preparedness. India now boasts of 28 communities recognized as Tsunami Ready, with many more in the pipeline.

Recognising the critical role of the media in disaster preparedness, UNESCO and INCOIS organized a press visit to an early warning centre and Tsunami Ready community in India where they observed real-time tsunami monitoring and learned about the rapid response mechanisms, as well as witnessed how a Tsunami ready community responds to warnings. Twenty journalists from various international, national, and regional media houses participated in this field visit which aimed to help build journalists’ capacity in disaster reporting, ensuring that future coverage avoids misinformation and fear-mongering while providing accurate, life-saving information to the public. 

The 2004 tsunami taught hard lessons about the cascading effects of disasters. Rescue operations revealed extensive damage beyond immediate loss of life. Schools and infrastructure were destroyed, clean water was scarce, and displaced families faced immense hardships, including food shortages and health crises. These challenges underscore the importance of holistic disaster management, addressing not just immediate threats but also long-term recovery. 

Looking ahead, India is focusing on developing multi-hazard early warning systems and addressing non-seismic tsunamis. These advancements align with the UN Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme, which promotes international cooperation to improve warning systems and community readiness globally. The initiative includes key elements like enhancing monitoring infrastructure, refining response protocols, and integrating local knowledge into preparedness strategies.

Two decades after the tragedy, the Indian Ocean tsunami remains a stark reminder of nature’s power and humanity’s vulnerability. But it also highlights the progress made through collective action.

UNESCO’s Tsunami Ready Programme aims to build awareness and preparedness, encourage cooperation between stakeholders, and recognize communities that meet key safety indicators. The programme’s commitment to train all vulnerable communities by 2030 will help ensure a safer future for all.