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Natural warning signs of tsunamis: Human sensory experience and response to the 2004 great Sumatra earthquake and tsunami in Thailand

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 18:03 authored by Gregg, CE, Houghton, BF, Douglas Paton, Lachman, R, Lachman, J, Johnston, DM, Wongbusarakum, S
Natural warning signs of tsunamis include ground shaking from earthquakes and unusual sea-level fluctuations, wave forms, and sounds. These signs can alert people to impending tsunamis, but no research has explored the recognizability of these signs or the social-cognitive factors that affect human behavioral response to them. Of 663 interviewees, 24% felt ground shaking during the earthquake; 69% saw something unusual about the ocean before the first wave reached land, mostly a receded shoreline; and 55% heard something unusual. Despite these levels of observation, most people did not evacuate. In fact, 65% saw other people in the danger zone at the time of the tsunami impact. Most respondents had to run for their lives but could not identify a safe place. There are major differences in experience among north, central, and southern coastal Thailand, reflecting social, topographical, and hydrological factors. © 2006, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute.

History

Publication title

Earthquake Spectra

Volume

22

Issue

Supplement 3

Pagination

S671-S691

ISSN

8755-2930

Department/School

School of Psychological Sciences

Publisher

Earthquake Engineering Research Institute

Place of publication

USA

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Environmental education and awareness

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