As UNESCO predicts that a tsunami will hit the Mediterranean within the next 30 to 50 years, French scientists are putting in place warning systems – hoping to avoid a death toll like the one seen in 2004 in the Indian Ocean, when a tsunami killed up to 230,000 people.
The beach in Nice, southeastern France, where a tsuanmi hit in 1979 and killed 11 people. © Lionel Cironneau/AP
By :RFI
The Boxing Day tsunami of 26 December was "a wake-up call for humanity to do more, to better understand disaster risks," said Kamal Kishore, UN special representative for Disaster Risk Reduction.
French scientists have been doing just that, focusing on the risk of a tsunami occurring around its Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts and installing early warning systems.
2004 Indian Ocean tsunami: what to know 20 years on
Unesco has said there is a 100 percent chance of a tsunami of at least 1 metre in height occurring in the Mediterranean in the next 30 to 50 years.
Monitoring activity
In 2012, France established the National Centre for Tsunami Alert (Cenalt), with seismometers working 24 hours a day to monitor earthquake activity around the country – with an eye towards predicting tsunamis on the coast.
“We do not expect tsunamis to go over 2 or 3 metres high, compared to the Pacific or Indian Oceans where there have been waves as high as 30 metres,” Cenalt director Pascal Roudil told France Info.
However, even smaller waves can cause damage. In October 1979 an underwater landslide caused a tsunami in Nice. A 3-metre high wave hit the coast, killing 11 people and sending water 150 metres inland.
Tears and prayers as Asia mourns tsunami dead 20 years on
Since 2012, around 100 seismological events have been noted by Cenalt and some have triggered warnings, but they are yet to record a real tsunami risk.
Risk on the Riviera
Cities along the French Rivera have organised drills to raise awareness of the risks, and teach people what to do in the event of a tsunami being detected. In some cases, people would have as little as 15 minutes to move to higher ground.
The coast of south-eastern France, between the sea and the Alps, is an active seismic zone, and earthquakes are recorded regularly. In mid December a 3.7 magnitude quake was recorded off the coast of Nice.
In January, Cannes became the first French city to be recognised by Unesco as “Tsunami Ready”, thanks to its alert system, evacuation plans and the drills it has organised.
26/12/2024 -
The Boxing Day tsunami of 26 December was "a wake-up call for humanity to do more, to better understand disaster risks," said Kamal Kishore, UN special representative for Disaster Risk Reduction.
French scientists have been doing just that, focusing on the risk of a tsunami occurring around its Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts and installing early warning systems.
2004 Indian Ocean tsunami: what to know 20 years on
Unesco has said there is a 100 percent chance of a tsunami of at least 1 metre in height occurring in the Mediterranean in the next 30 to 50 years.
Monitoring activity
In 2012, France established the National Centre for Tsunami Alert (Cenalt), with seismometers working 24 hours a day to monitor earthquake activity around the country – with an eye towards predicting tsunamis on the coast.
“We do not expect tsunamis to go over 2 or 3 metres high, compared to the Pacific or Indian Oceans where there have been waves as high as 30 metres,” Cenalt director Pascal Roudil told France Info.
However, even smaller waves can cause damage. In October 1979 an underwater landslide caused a tsunami in Nice. A 3-metre high wave hit the coast, killing 11 people and sending water 150 metres inland.
Tears and prayers as Asia mourns tsunami dead 20 years on
Since 2012, around 100 seismological events have been noted by Cenalt and some have triggered warnings, but they are yet to record a real tsunami risk.
Risk on the Riviera
Cities along the French Rivera have organised drills to raise awareness of the risks, and teach people what to do in the event of a tsunami being detected. In some cases, people would have as little as 15 minutes to move to higher ground.
The coast of south-eastern France, between the sea and the Alps, is an active seismic zone, and earthquakes are recorded regularly. In mid December a 3.7 magnitude quake was recorded off the coast of Nice.
In January, Cannes became the first French city to be recognised by Unesco as “Tsunami Ready”, thanks to its alert system, evacuation plans and the drills it has organised.
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