1755 Lisbon Earthquake and Tsunami Commemoration Event, From Memory to Resilience: Coastal Communities Leading the Wave of Change

Résumé

On November 1^st, 1755, a powerful earthquake struck Lisbon, followed by a massive tsunami that devastated much of Portugal’s coastline and beyond. This event remains one of the most destructive tsunamis in European history, claiming tens of thousands of lives and reshaping disaster risk awareness in the region.

270 years later, as the world faces increasingly complex climate and geological hazards, the Lisbon Tsunami serves as a historic reminder of the importance of preparedness, resilience, and international cooperation. Considering this, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and, in collaboration with the Civil Protection Department of Cascais, are going to organize a commemoration event in Cascais, Portugal.

Objectives

• To honor the memory of the lives lost in the 1755 Lisbon Tsunami.
• To raise public awareness about tsunami risk and preparedness.
• To showcase international, national, and local efforts in tsunami early warning and tsunami risk reduction.
• To promote the UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready Programme and highlight community-led resilience initiatives.
• To foster dialogue between policymakers, scientists, emergency responders and communities.