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Tsunami: Measures for prevention of disasters in the Mediterranean sea
January 2005

A tsunami is a series of waves most commonly caused by an earthquake beneath the sea floor.
Tsunamis can occur at any time of the day or night, under any and all weather conditions, and in all seasons.
A strong off-shore earthquake may generate a tsunami.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In coastal areas, the largest subduction zone earthquake may kill fewer people than the tsunami that follows. An earthquake may serve as a warning that a tsunami is coming, and so may a rapid fall or rise in coastal waters.


The biblical catastrophe that we have witnessed after the recent earthquake and the tsunami that followed in Southeast Asia, could have been prevented to a great extend if there was in place a functional alert and communication system that would have in time alerted the populations of the affected countries.

The issue now is not only to take measures to support the victims and their countries, but as well to take into consideration the fact that there are other geographical areas who are at risk of tsunamis.

Researchers stress out that the areas most in danger for similar disasters are the Mediterranean sea, the Caribbean, Central and South American coasts, the Indian and Pacific oceans.

In the Mediterranean sea there are not in place adequate alert systems for warning and protecting the populations from tsunamis that may occur after undersea earthquakes.

It is important to understand that the problem is not only technical. The social aspect of this issue that includes educating people and coordination, are more difficult to achieve than the technical infrastructure.

Informing the people in regions in danger, training them how to react in case of such catastrophic events, are essential components of a system for protection, prevention of disasters and massive losses of human lives because of tsunamis.

The important and difficult tasks of informing and educating the public, has more possibilities of success if they start now that the memories and the pictures of the disaster are fresh in their memory.

The technical and social components of a system for warning, communication and actions to take in the event of tsunami include the following:
  1. Seismographs: In regions at risk, a sufficient number of seismographs should be in place. An extensive network of seismographs should be organized that would detect and register any vibes from undersea earthquakes. It is fundamental that these seismographs should undergo regular maintenance and be upgraded whenever technical evolutions impose it
     
  2. Data processing centers: It is important to establish regional data processing centers. The immediate expert reading and interpretation of the collected data, will allow predictions for tsunami type phenomena, the time that they may occur, their intensity and the regions that will be affected
     
  3. Communications systems: Adequate communications systems should be installed that will be able to quickly transfer internationally, alarms and warnings to populations and communities in areas that are in immediate danger. Alarm sirens that will warn people should be tried and installed. All these systems should be regulated by specific protocols and readily functional
     
  4. Education of populations: People who live in areas at risk, should be educated in matters relevant to earthquakes and tsunamis. Additionally they should be taught in advance how to react and what to do in case that such a disastrous phenomenon occurs. Planning should be done to determine safe grounds for the inhabitants of endangered localities and  for providing the means for them to escape.

    Educating the populations and the social organization for confronting these catastrophic phenomena, are much more difficult to achieve than the technical infrastructure of a detection and alarm system for the timely warning of people in danger. 

In the tragedy in Southeastern Asia of the 26th of December 2004, there were systems that detected the tsunamis. However it is reported that a telephone line that should have conveyed the alarming data and allow the warning of relevant authorities in order to take action, was not functional.

The tsunamis needed two hours to travel the 1,500 kilometers from the epicenter of the undersea earthquake till the coastal areas of Sri Lanka and India. This time was sufficient to warn and draw out tenths of thousands of people from the coastal regions in peril. Unfortunately no such measures were taken and the human victims were more than 220.000.

Nobody knows when the next undersea earthquake will take place and will cause killer tsunamis. The magnitude of the catastrophe that we have witnessed, imperatively impose the installation and organization of alarming and communication systems for the timely detection of tsunamis. 

Finally we should never forget that no technical system is enough if there is not at the same time enlightenment and education of people in areas at risk around the globe among which the Mediterranean sea is included.

 

Bibliography:

  1. International Strategy for Disaster Reduction 
     
  2. World Health Organization 


 
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Disclaimer: The information and recommendations contained and presented in this website have been compiled from sources believed to be reliable and scientifically correct. However Progressive Insurance Company Ltd, makes no guarantee as to, and assumes no responsibility for, the correctness, sufficiency, or completeness of such information or recommendations. Other or additional information or safety measures may be required under particular circumstances.