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Tsunamis
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Disasters

Tsunamis

A tsunami is a series of powerful ocean waves triggered by underwater disturbances that can cause devastating floods and loss of life.

Overview

A tsunami is a series of huge ocean waves created by an underwater disturbance. These waves can move hundreds of miles per hour in the open ocean and smash into land with waves as high as 100 feet or more.

Causes

Tsunamis are caused by various geological and external events, including:

  • Earthquakes
  • Landslides
  • Volcanic eruptions
  • Meteorites (chunks of rock from space that strike the surface of Earth)

Risks

Tsunamis can cause devastating floods. Drowning is the most common cause of death related to a tsunami.

Preparedness and Coping

Although there are no guarantees of safety during a tsunami, you can take actions to protect yourself. You should have a disaster plan, as being prepared can help reduce fear, anxiety, and losses. If you do experience a disaster, it is normal to feel stressed, and you may need help finding ways to cope.

Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

Frequently Asked Questions

In addition to drowning and severe blunt-force trauma from debris, survivors frequently develop tsunami lung, a life-threatening form of necrotizing aspiration pneumonia. Tsunami lung occurs when a person inhales saltwater heavily contaminated with mud, silt, fungal pathogens, and mixed bacterial strains, requiring aggressive intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotics and antifungal therapy. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to polluted floodwaters creates a high risk for wound infections, leptospirosis, and gastrointestinal illness from contaminated drinking supplies, necessitating strict hygiene and early medical attention for any developing fevers or infected cuts.
Before emergency sirens or automated warnings sound, nature often provides critical alerts. Key indicators include a strong earthquake that makes standing difficult or lasts longer than 20 seconds, a sudden and dramatic receding of the ocean that exposes the seafloor, reefs, and stranded marine life, and a loud roaring or rumbling sound coming from the sea that resembles a freight train or jet engine. If you observe any of these warning signs along a coastline, do not wait for official evacuation orders; immediately move inland to high ground or to the upper floors of a reinforced concrete multi-story building.
tsunami is not a single wave, but a series of powerful surges known as a wave train. Successive waves can strike minutes or even hours apart, and the first wave to reach the coast is rarely the largest or most destructive. Returning to shore prematurely to locate family members, assess property damage, or view the event puts individuals directly in the path of secondary, often larger waves and lethal backwash currents carrying heavy debris. Always wait for an official 'all-clear' notification from emergency management agencies before returning to low-lying coastal zones.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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