But then the water will rush in again as before, causing additional damage. This destructive cycle may repeat many times before the hazard finally passes. Persons caught in the path of a tsunami have little chance to survive. They can be easily crushed by debris or they may simply drown. Children and the elderly are particularly at risk, as they have less mobility, strength, and endurance.
Tsunamis typically cause the most severe damage and casualties very near their source.
There the waves are highest because they have not yet lost too much energy to friction or spreading. In addition, the nearby coastal population, often disoriented from the violent earthquake shaking, has little time to react before the tsunami arrives. The largest tsunamis, however, can cause destruction and casualties over a wide area, sometimes as wide as the entire Pacific basin. These types of Pacific-wide tsunamis may happen only a few times each century. As with any natural hazard, the more informed the public is, the better are the chances for their survival.