24 coastal villages declared ‘Tsunami Ready’ by UNESCO

Bhubaneswar, Nov 19: In a major achievement for disaster preparedness, 24 tsunami-prone villages across six coastal districts of Odisha have been officially recognized as 'Tsunami Ready' by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. This prestigious recognition, announced at the 2nd Global Tsunami Symposium in Indonesia on November 11, 2024, highlights the state's proactive efforts to safeguard its coastal communities from tsunami risks.

The recognized villages, located in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, and Ganjam, have undergone rigorous preparedness programs, which included community training, awareness campaigns, evacuation drills, and the installation of state-of-the-art tsunami warning systems. This concerted effort has significantly enhanced the resilience of these coastal communities, making them better equipped to respond to potential tsunami threats.

In addition to the new recognitions, two villages—Noliasahi (Jagatsinghpur) and Venkatraipur (Ganjam)—received renewed 'Tsunami Ready' status, underscoring their continued commitment to disaster preparedness.

The Odisha government has ambitious plans to extend this initiative across all 381 tsunami-prone villages along its coastline in a phased approach. The long-term goal is to ensure that every coastal community in the state is equipped to handle tsunami threats, with the hope of creating a model for other regions vulnerable to similar natural disasters.

With this recognition, Odisha strengthens its reputation as a leader in disaster risk reduction and community preparedness, setting an example for coastal areas worldwide in the fight against tsunami risks.