Tsunamis are dangerous because they can travel at extremely high speeds across oceans (up to 500-800 km/h), allowing little time for warning. When they reach shallow coastal waters, their speed slows but their wave height increases drastically, forming towering walls of water that can flood several kilometers inland. The force of these waves is powerful enough to carry debris like boats, cars, and trees, which can cause severe injuries or deaths. Tsunamis can last for hours with multiple waves, and the first wave may not be the largest or most damaging. They generate strong currents and flooding that can destroy buildings, infrastructure, and lead to significant loss of life and property. In summary:
- Travel very fast in open ocean, making early detection difficult
- Increase dramatically in height near shore, creating massive waves
- Flood inland for kilometers, causing extensive damage
- Carry dangerous debris that harms people and property
- Multiple waves can come over hours, prolonging danger
These characteristics combine to make tsunamis among the most destructive and deadly natural disasters, as seen in the 2004 Indian Ocean and 2011 Japan events which caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and widespread destruction.
