November 5 is United Nations Tsunami Awareness Day.
Tsunami is a Japanese word for a long, destructive ocean wave caused by an undersea earthquake.
The goal of the observance is to learn from disasters of the past and to prepare for the future.
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Countries that have been hit by tsunamis have learned that better building requirements can save lives and limit damage.
Chile is a country that has learned this first hand. In February 2010, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck the country also causing a powerful tsunami. About 525 people died.
Four years later, another earthquake of 8.4 magnitude, struck. This time, 15 people were killed in the quake, but no one died in the following tsunami.
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