Abstract
On 12 December 1979 a disastrous tsunami occurred, for the second time
in the twentieth century, on the coast of Nariño and Cauca
(SW-Colombia), generated by a 8.4 magnitud earthquake in the nearby
subduction zone. The diverse consequences of this earthquake -strong
shaking, tsunami and soil liquefaction- caused great human and
material losses, however limited due to circumstances such us sparse
population, low tide level and dominant buildings types. At
international level this event singled out leading to important
seismological results; at national level the disaster was the starting
point for a process of scientific, technical, social and
administrative advances, evident in the present status of the National
Tsunami Prevention Program. This article describes some general
characteristics of the tsunami phenomenon and of the present knowledge
and forecasting capacities; it presents tha main features of the 1979
event, its previous occurrences, consequences, pending scientific
problems regarding the tsunami hazard on Colombian coasts, as well as
advances and needs in the control of the growing risk it entails.
Key words: Tsunami, Pacific Ocean, Colombia
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