With this recognition, La Punta establishes itself as the country’s first tsunami-ready community.
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 of UNESCO (IOC-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 program, 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 150 Member States to strengthen ocean science, 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 Program promotes the preparedness of coastal communities for tsunamis through compliance with 12 international indicators related to risk assessment, community preparedness, and emergency response capacity, including early warning systems, evacuation route signage, emergency plans, and public training.
The program also requires clearly defined local and institutional governance. In Peru’s case, the guidelines include the establishment of a National Tsunami Ready Council (CNTR). The sustainability of the recognition is a core principle of the program: once granted, the designation is valid for four years and may be renewed, provided the community demonstrates that it maintains the established standards and continues to meet the program’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 belonging to the National Disaster Risk Management System (SINAGERD), involved in monitoring and risk analysis for tsunami events, 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 Program standards at the local level, strengthening community preparedness and its capacity to respond to emergencies.
“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 a permanent responsibility: to continue strengthening our capacities for disaster prevention, response, and recovery,” stated Ramón Garay León, mayor of La Punta.
The Tsunami Ready Program, currently active in 43 countries, promotes evacuation drills, awareness campaigns such as #GetToHighGround, and coordination between national and local authorities to ensure effective and well-coordinated 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 Program as part of broader efforts to strengthen resilience to tsunamis. The inclusion of La Punta places Peru within this regional network of prepared communities and represents an important step toward expanding this model to other coastal areas of the country.
The Tsunami Ready recognition does not eliminate risk; rather, it strengthens 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 Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), which promotes better preparedness among coastal communities exposed to tsunami risk by the year 2030.
The certificate was awarded in the district of La Punta on March 27, 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.