What is tsunami?

A tsunami is like when a giant wave suddenly comes from nowhere and crashes into the shore.

Imagine you're playing in a bathtub full of water. If you jump in with a big splash, waves go everywhere, that’s kind of what happens during a tsunami, but way bigger!

A tsunami usually starts when something really big moves under the ocean, like an earthquake or a volcano erupting. This movement pushes a lot of water up, creating a huge wave.

This wave can travel across the whole ocean, sometimes for thousands of miles! When it gets close to land, the wave gets taller and stronger, just like when you put your hand in the bathtub and make the water rise. Then, boom, it hits the shore with a lot of force.

Sometimes, people might not even notice the tsunami coming because it looks like a normal wave at first. But once it reaches the beach, it can flood everything, just like how the water from your splash can suddenly cover your feet!