An ‘International Conference on Science for Sustainable Development’ was organized by the Laboratory of Marine Geosciences and Soil Sciences (LGMSS) of University of Chouaib Doukkali (UCD), Morocco on 9-10 March 2023. The conference also featured presentations on tsunami risks in El Jadida/Morocco the status of implementing tsunami early warning and alerting systems, the progress of IOC-UNESCO Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme and scientific studies completed, contributing to make El Jadida Tsunami Ready.
Source: Khalid El Khalidi
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commision of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) EU DG-ECHO CoastWAVE project country representatives gathered online between 16-17 February 2023 to learn more on the implementation of the IOC-UNESCO Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme (TRRP). The training focused on Tsunami Ready Indicators was hosted and facilitated by the IOC-UNESCO CoastWAVE project team. The training approach involved empowering CoastWAVE project representatives from Malta, Spain, Türkiye, Cyprus, Greece, Morocco, and Egypt. Experts of IOC-UNESCO Indian Ocean Tsunami Information Center also facilitated the training.
The IOC-UNESCO Tsunami Ready Recognition Program (TRRP) is a global initiative aimed at promoting tsunami preparedness and resilience in coastal communities consisting of 12 Indicators to be achieved. The program is designed to help communities improve their readiness by taking a set of specific actions, such as establishing a local tsunami warning system, conducting public education and outreach, and promoting evacuation planning.
Photo resource: Canva Pro.
A deadly and damaging M7.8 earthquake hit southern Türkiye at 4:17 local time (01:17 UTC) on 6 February 2023 (Fig 1). According to the Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute in Türkiye – (KOERI), the earthquake occurred near the Syrian border at 90 km from the coast. The earthquake was felt as far as Cyprus, Egypt and Lebanon. The UNESCO/IOC Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and connected Seas (NEAMTWS) responded to the earthquake. Tsunami Service Providers in Italy (INGV) and Türkiye (KOERI) issued their first tsunami bulletins within 8 to 15 minutes respectively following the detection of the earthquake. Several countries including Albania, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Montenegro, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, and Türkiye were placed on Tsunami Watch. A tsunami ranging from (12-17 cm) was detected on sea level stations following the earthquake around Türkiye.
Fig 1: Seismic activity in the 300-km diameter area after the earthquakes by 08.02.2023 10:00 UTC (KOERI, 2023)
The Ninth Meeting of the Regional Working Group on Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System for Pacific Island Countries and Territories (WG-PICT) was attended by scientific and technical officials from 16 Pacific Islands National Tsunami Warning Centres (NTWC), National Disaster Management Offices (NDMO), and Geological Services from 2-3 February 2023 in Nadi, Fiji.
Ms. Nisha, Director of the UNESCO Office for the Pacific States formally welcomed representatives of PICTs and Ms. Esline Garaebiti, Director General of Government of Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology, Geo-hazard, Environment, Energy and Disaster Management and Chair of the WG-PICT delivered her statement on the importance of the regional coordination on strengthening PICT tsunami warning and mitigation system especially on data and information sharing to improve warning and response time for the region.
While opening the meeting at the Tanoa Hotel in Nadi, Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, Mr Filimoni Vosarogo, said that the Pacific cannot address tsunami threats effectively if we continue to work in isolation. He highlighted that regional and international collaboration is the only way to address our limited local capacity to effectively prepare and respond to tsunamis.
An experts meeting was held in Naples, Italy from 28-30 November 2022 to explore opportunities and identify key actions to implement the new ICG/NEAMTWS 2030 Strategy. The meeting was co-organised by IOC-UNESCO and the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). The new strategy was finalized in 2021 spearheaded by the Task Team on Documentation to further help advance NEAMTWS. The meeting was instrumental in terms of discussing the strategic objectives and proposed dedicated actions to the advancement of NEAMTWS in the context of the Ocean Decade and Safe Ocean challenge. The strategy is expected to be published as an IOC Technical Series, and communication material in the first quarter of 2023. Prof. Maria Ana Baptista, Chair of the ICG/NEAMTWS highlighted that “the ICG/NEAMTWS 2030 Strategy is key to capitalise on the Ocean Decade societal benefits in order to further improve monitoring, detection and data-sharing among Member States and partners”.
ICG/NEAMTWS Expert Meeting Group Picture, Centro Congressi Federico II, Naples, Italy. Source: INGV.
The Indonesian coast, between Banda Aceh and Meulaboh, after the earthquake and the tsunami of 26 December 2004. Photo by Evan Schneider © UN Photo
UNESCO supports Member States in improving capabilities for tsunami risk assessment, implementing early warning systems and enhancing preparedness of communities at risk. UNESCO works closely with national institutions and promotes inter-institutional and regional cooperation. Specialized regional centers provide tsunami information that, together with national analysis, is the basis of the warnings issued for the public. In addition, UNESCO promotes community-based approaches in the development of response plans and awareness campaigns which strongly involve education institutions and end-users.