Tsunamis are one of the most deadly and difficult natural hazards to warn for and to respond to. In addition to the most typical types of tsunamis generated by undersea earthquakes along subduction zones, there are what we term “non-seismic tsunamis” and “complex tsunamis”. These may be generated by landslides and submarine landslides generated by volcanic eruptions or earthquakes not necessarily associated with subduction zones.
A webinar addressing the challenges for warnings of non-seismic and complex tsunamis was organized by the UNESCO/IOC Secretariat for the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS) and Indian Ocean Tsunami Information Center (IOTIC) during 6-7 April 2022. The event contributed to the UN Ocean Decade Safe Ocean Laboratory as a satellite activity.
The webinar explored the current knowledge of non-seismic and complex tsunamis, the ability to monitor their generation and warn for their likely impacts to save lives, and pathways for improving future warnings. Session A, which focused on learning from recent tsunamis generated by non-seismic and complex sources, was attended by 207 participants from 43 countries. Session B, which focused on knowledge and gaps to warn for such tsunami events, was attended by 166 participants from 46 countries.
Videos of both sessions are available to view here.
Over 400,000 citizens, experts and government officials took part on March 11th, 2022, in a tsunami response exercise across 32 Caribbean countries and 16 territories. The exercise sought to evaluate national and local tsunami response plans, increase tsunami preparedness, and improve coordination throughout the region. This exercise included two simulated scenarios of an earthquake occurrence in the Western Muertos Trough, South of Dominican Republic and Panama. Titled CARIBE WAVE 22, the exercise simulated a widespread Tsunami Threat situation throughout the Caribbean, which required implementation of national and local tsunami response plans.
The exercise included public notification through sirens, emails, emergency alert systems, text messages, media outlets, radio, and social media. The total number of registered participants reached a historical record for CARIBE WAVE exercises at 406,069 people mobilized across the region, as recorded by the TsunamiZone platform. In addition to the communication tests, in different countries and communities the exercise took various forms including seminars, table top exercises, video/web conferencing, drills and rehearsals.
The IOC UNESCO organized an online project kick-off workshop on ‘Strengthening the Resilience of Coastal Communities in the North-East Atlantic, Mediterranean Region to the Impact of Tsunamis and Other Sea Level-Related Coastal Hazard on 17 and 20 December 2021. The 2.5-year project is financially supported by the European Union Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO).
The project aims to improve understanding of tsunami and sea-level related risks, develop better communication strategies, enhance real-time detection and monitoring capacities, improve alert and warning capacity. The project aims to implement at least seven Tsunami Ready recognized communities by 2023 in the seven selected countries: Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Malta, Morocco, Spain and Turkey. Dr Denis Chang Seng, Programme Specialist, and Technical Secretary of IOC ICG/NEAMTWS highlighted that the key objectives of the workshop were to officially launch the new project, introduce country project partners and technical support countries, and establish a better understanding of the national and local context. The project is now named ‘CoastWAVE Project’. Mr Bernardo Aliaga, Head of Tsunami Unit (a.i) expressed his gratitude for the renewal of fruitful cooperation between IOC UNESCO and the EU ECHO in the Mediterranean region concerning tsunami early warning and mitigation system. Dr Vladimir Ryabinin, the Executive Secretary of IOC in his opening remarks thanked EU DG ECHO and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) for strong cooperation and collaboration with IOC UNESCO. He said the project is timely and fits the development of the Tsunami Programme. The Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development provides an opportunity to co-design and work with the tsunami community in the Mediterranean region. Mr Peter Billing, EU DG ECHO underlined the excellent long-standing cooperation with UNESCO. The new project aligns with the new ECHO approach on Disaster Risk Reduction on reinforcing local preparedness and education to reduce coastal hazard impacts. He stressed that it is an opportune time to take advantage of lessons learned and share experiences, as well as take benefit of the new IOC UNESCO Tsunami Ready Community programme, a tool to reinforce local preparedness and resilience. Dr Nikos Kalligeris, the Tsunami National Contact and project focal point of Greece, delivered an opening remark prepared by the ICG/NEAMTWS Chair Prof Maria Ana Baptista. The new project initiative is paramount to NEAMTWS, especially considering the rare, but high impact of tsunami events due to high population exposure and tourism activities in the Mediterranean region.
The Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas (ICG/NEAMTWS) held its 17th session of the ICG/NEAMTWS online between 24-26 November 2021. Despite the ongoing health pandemic, important progress has been achieved during the inter-sessional period. The Group welcomed the approval of a new IOC European Union DG-ECHO (European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations) NEAMTWS project on “Strengthening the Resilience of Coastal Communities in the North-Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean Region to the Impact of Tsunamis and Other Sea Level-Related Coastal Hazards. The project will help drive and shape the establishment and enhancement of tsunami early warning systems in several countries. An important milestone reported is the finalization of a new ICG/NEAMTWS 2021-2030 Strategy in line with the UN Ocean Science Decade for Sustainable Development. The Group encouraged Member States and partners to contribute to its implementation. Another key achievement is the successful results of the fourth tsunami exercise for the region, NEAMWave21 conducted between 8-10 March 2021 and the major increase in media interest.
First tsunami end-to-end exercise, 5 Nov 2021, Marsaxlokk, Malta Source: Denis Chang Seng
UNESCO-IOC’s project on Strengthening Tsunami Warning in the North West Indian Ocean through Regional Collaboration with funding from the ESCAP Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness marks a milestone as it transitions to the second phase.
The project is underpinned by a programmatic approach designed to establish long-term national working processes while aligning with the targets of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. Being closely tied with the overall governance of the UNESCO-IOC Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS), the National Tsunami Working Groups, future Tsunami Ready communities, and the associated working processes will be sustained beyond the project period and also replicated in other regions of the Indian Ocean beyond Makran.
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Participants and team members discuss tsunami warning chains in North West Indian Ocean countries at the Regional Standard Operating Procedure Workshop for Disaster Management Organisations held online on 12-14 October 2021.
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.