A 7.6 strength earthquake hit around the Tonga area has raised the alarm of the world- now the word tsunami warning is a trending word used in social media in Bangladesh. People are now serious in posing the question: Will this Pacific earthquake lead to a tsunami along the Bay of Bengal?
The answer to this is, briefly, and succinctly, No, Bangladesh is not at threat by this happening.
Why the Tonga Earthquake Made Headlines?
The earthquake happened in the Pacific Ring of Fire which is one of the most earthquake prone regions in the world. Since it was of great magnitude, early warning mechanisms recommended precautionary measures which stated that there were chances of tsunami affecting the area.
These are mostly automated and precautionary notifications that disseminate fast through foreign media and were commonly transferred on social media platforms in Bangladesh such as Facebook and WhatsApp this caused confusion and panic.
Is there any tsunami threat to Bangladesh?
Regardless of the powerful quake, there are a number of scientific aspects, which validate that Bangladesh is secure.
At the outset, the earthquake took place extremely under the ground, that is, more than 230 kilometers beneath the surface of the earth. Deep earthquakes normally do not cause ocean water to move significantly to cause huge tsunami waves.
Second, Tonga is three thousand kilometers distant to the Bay of Bengal. The conditions which travel across the entire oceans are very specific, which in this case were not fulfilled.
Lastly, the situation has been explained by the authorities. The Bangladesh Meteorological Agency has denied the presence of tsunami alarms in the coastline of Bangladesh.
Why Don’t All Earthquakes Cause Tsunamis?
One of the myths is that all of the powerful earthquakes cause a tsunami. The fact is that the only earthquakes that can cause large waves are shallow underwater ones that produce large vertical movements of the seabed.
In this instance, the ocean water was not significantly disturbed since the depth of the quake was not very huge and as such, no trans-oceanic tsunami occurred.
How did the Panic get so fast in Bangladesh?
The weather of the time when the news was made was significant. The Bangladesh national day is an important day celebrated on March 25 and more people tend to update themselves on the news.
Together with the threatening opening news and similar posts on social networks, the situation gave a series of fake news even when the first warnings had been lifted.
Is the Bay of Bengal safe?
Yes, the bay of the Bengal is perfectly quiet, and no reported unusualness. No coastal evacuation and safety notices or alerts of emergency. People living in the areas as well as tourists are at liberty to carry on with their morning activities.
Final Thoughts
The earthquake of Tonga was possibly strong however, it cannot be a threat to Bangladesh. The natural outcome of this event is to draw attention to the speed at which information about events taking place in the world becomes globally famous, and to how the necessity to use only proven information comes.
It is possible to prevent unjustified panic through scientific knowledge of earthquakes and tsunamis and ensure the communities are aware and secure.
FAQs
1. Is the Destruction of the Tonga earthquake capable of creating a tsunami in Bangladesh?
No, it will not be able to influence Bangladesh.
2. How come that this earthquake did not produce a tsunami?
This was due to the fact that it happened too deep underwater.
3. Is a tsunami Watch in Bangladesh?
No. As of now there is a formal announcement regarding the threat of Tsunami due to Tonga.
4. What is the key cause of the misunderstanding?
Early international communications and social media communication.
5. Is the Bay of Bengal safe at the present time?
Yes, it is completely safe.
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