Deadly and Damaging Earthquake in Türkiye and Syrian Boarder, Tsunami-related Sea Level Anomalies Detected in Türkiye

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)

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Ninth meeting of the IOC-UNESCO – ICG/PTWS Regional Working Group in Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System for Pacific Island Countries and Territories

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.

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Dialogue on the Implementation of the New ICG/NEAMTWS 2030 Strategy to Further Advance NEAMTWS.

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.

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Pacific Island Countries and Territories - Regional Training on the UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme

Over 40 participants from tsunami warning centres, disaster management offices, meteorological and geological services of 13 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) are attending the first Regional Training for PICT on the UNESCO/IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme from 30 January to 1 February 2023 in Nadi, Fiji. 

Ms. Nisha, Director of the UNESCO Office for the Pacific States, formally welcomed the Group together with by Mr Sanaka Samarasinha, UN Resident Coordinator for the Republic of Fiji, who committed to call on the One UN Pacific family to support PICTs in making 100% of their at-risk communities Tsunami Ready by 2030.

The Assistant Director General of UNESCO and IOC Executive Secretary, Dr Vladimir Ryabinin, thanked the Fiji government for hosting the Regional Training, and called on the need to have professionals from relevant disciplines to engage in the Tsunami Ready Programme and call on them to become part of the Tsunami Programme of the UN Ocean Decade.

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