In a milestone for disaster risk management in Peru, the district of La Punta, in Callao, has been officially recognized as a “Tsunami Ready” community by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, after successfully meeting all the indicators of the Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme (TRRP). It is the first coastal district in the country to successfully implement this programme, strengthening coastal resilience and contributing to the global goal of ensuring that 100% of at‑risk communities are prepared by 2030.
“From UNESCO, through the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, we work with 153 Member States to strengthen ocean sciences, improve observation and early warning systems, and promote communities and institutions that, when prepared, protect lives. We are pleased that La Punta is joining this global network,” said Guiomar Alonso Cano, UNESCO Representative in Peru.
The Tsunami Ready Programme promotes preparedness of coastal communities for tsunamis through compliance with 12 international indicators related to risk assessment, community preparedness, and emergency response capacity. These include early warning systems, evacuation route signage, emergency plans, and public training.
The Programme also requires clearly defined local and institutional governance. In Peru’s case, the guidelines provide for the establishment of a National Tsunami Ready Council (CNTR). The sustainability of the recognition is a core principle of the programme: once granted, the recognition is valid for four years and may be renewed, provided the community demonstrates that it maintains the established standards and continues to meet the programme’s indicators.
The process to achieve this recognition took place between late 2024 and September 2025, with the participation of the District Municipality of La Punta, in coordination with technical entities of the National Disaster Risk Management System (SINAGERD) linked to the monitoring and analysis of tsunami risks, such as the Directorate of Hydrography and Navigation of the Peruvian Navy and the National Institute of Civil Defense. This coordinated effort made it possible to implement the Tsunami Ready Programme standards at the local level, strengthening community preparedness and emergency response capacity.
“This recognition not only validates compliance with rigorous standards, but also reflects our community’s genuine commitment to life, prevention, and resilience. Being a Tsunami Ready community means being better prepared, but it also entails assuming a permanent responsibility: to continue strengthening our capacities for prevention, response, and recovery in the face of disasters,” stated Ramón Garay León, District Mayor of La Punta.
The Tsunami Ready Programme, currently active in 43 countries, promotes evacuation drills, awareness campaigns such as #GetToHighGround, and coordination between national and local authorities to ensure coordinated and effective emergency responses.
At the regional level, communities in Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly in countries such as Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico, have made progress in implementing the Tsunami Ready Programme as part of efforts to strengthen resilience to tsunamis. The inclusion of La Punta positions Peru within this regional network of prepared communities and represents an important step toward expanding this model to other localities along the Peruvian coastline.
Tsunami Ready recognition does not imply the elimination of risk, but rather the strengthening of institutional and community capacities that help reduce the impact of a tsunami through preparedness, coordination, and timely response. It also aligns with the objectives of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), which promotes improved preparedness of coastal communities exposed to tsunami risk by 2030.
The certificate award ceremony took place in the district of La Punta on 27 March, with the participation of Guiomar Alonso Cano, UNESCO Representative in Peru; Ramón Garay, Mayor of the District Municipality of La Punta; Brigadier General Luis Vásquez, Head of the National Institute of Civil Defense; Rear Admiral Jorge Vizcarra, Director of Hydrography and Navigation; and Colonel José Luis Bustamante, Director of Preparedness.
read more: https://www.ioc.unesco.org/en/articles/la-punta-becomes-perus-first-unesco-tsunami-ready-community
