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Oral traditions warn people about tsunamis effectively

Date: 17-Dec-07
Author: U.California-Santa Cruz

The infamous Indian Ocean tsunami that struck on December 26, 2004, caused tragically high mortality -- from 10 to 90 percent of the population at various locations. Yet in 1930 a tsunami of similar size, generated by an earthquake near the Ninigo Islands, struck northern Papua New Guinea and killed just 0.1 to 1 percent of the population on the coast there.

Why were these islanders living earlier in the century better protected? According to tsunami expert Simon Day, they had heard stories passed down from their elders about how to recognize a tsunami and how to respond. These people knew that when they saw the sea draw down, it was time to run for the hills.

On Deccember 26, 2004 about an hour after the first wave of the tsunami that hit a beach around Kalutara, Sri Lanka, Quickbird satellite captured this image showing water flow from devastated area back into the sea and the resulting turbulence offshore. Courtesy: DigitalGlobe
(Click on image for larger version)

Full story: Study finds oral traditions effectively warn people about tsunamis and reduce mortality