1 Tsunami (pronounced
"soo-NAHM-ee") is the Japanese word for harbor wave. There are many things that can cause tsunamis. Undersea earthquakes, undersea volcanic eruptions, and undersea landslides are among them.
2 Suppose there is a big earthquake (or quake) in the middle of an ocean. The ocean floor shakes and creates waves. These waves spread out from the center of the quake to all directions. They travel fast. They travel far. As these waves come near the land, they start to slow down, but they begin to grow higher. Once these big waves break or hit the land, they can cause serious damage. People get killed. Villages get washed away. Buildings get ruined.
3 Tsunamis are very scary. But, luckily, there is a way to know the danger in advance.
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