Knowledge, awareness, and attitudes toward tsunamis: A local survey in the southern coast of Iran

Research Overview

The southern coast of Iran (mainly the coastal area facing the Gulf of Oman) is a potential tsunami and storm surge disaster area, but since it is the least developed area in Iran, little work has been done to prevent such disasters. In recent years, the Iranian government has moved to designate this area as a free trade zone, and it is being positioned as an important area. In addition, there are many ethnic minorities living in the area, and religious influences are significant, so it was assumed that ordinary disaster mitigation measures would not work well.

In this study, a questionnaire survey, interviews, and focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted, which identified the knowledge, awareness, and attitudes toward tsunamis and the challenges in disaster mitigation management among the residents in urban and rural areas in the same coastal region. This study revealed the lack of trust in government, the importance of education, and the importance of the role of local religious leaders.

Publication

Salah, P. and Sasaki, J. Knowledge, awareness, and attitudes toward tsunamis: A local survey in the southern coast of Iran. Sustainability 13(2), 449, 2021. URL DOI