Spain Faces Important Tsunami Risk,Experts Warn
Madrid,Spain – The likelihood of Spain experiencing a tsunami is higher than many realize,with experts pointing to specific coastal areas as particularly vulnerable. A 2003 earthquake in northern Algeria generated waves of two meters that reached the Balearic Islands, serving as a recent example of the potential for seismic activity in the Mediterranean to impact Spanish shores.
the Intergovernmental Ocean Commission issued a stark warning in 2022, stating a 100 percent probability of a tsunami exceeding one meter in the Mediterranean within the next 30 years. This projection is based on research published in the Journal of Geophysical Research, titled Probabilistic tsunami hazard in the Mediterranean Sea.
Within Spain, the Alborán Sea and the Atlantic coast are identified as the primary areas of concern. The Averroes marine fault, situated off the Andalusian coast, possesses the theoretical capability to generate waves up to six meters high, which could reach land in as little as 30 minutes. Furthermore, data from Tsumaps suggests a 10 percent chance of a one-meter tsunami impacting Huelva or Cádiz within the next 50 years, with a 3 percent probability of a three-meter tsunami in the same timeframe.
Another study on Mediterranean tsunami probabilities highlights the Alboran Sea, the westernmost part of the Mediterranean, as one of the country’s most seismically active regions. The Mediterranean’s significant tectonic movement capacity means it could trigger tsunamis that affect the southeastern coast of Spain, with areas between Valencia and Málaga, including the Balearic Islands, being among the most susceptible.
Emilio Carreño, director of the national Seismic Network, has pinpointed the Spanish coastline stretching from Torrevieja down to the Strait of Gibraltar as the region most prone to future tsunamis.
Conversely, areas off the Cantabrian coast in northern Spain are considered at lower risk. Should a tsunami occur in this region,waves are not expected to exceed one meter and would primarily affect the coasts of Asturias,Cantabria,and the Basque Country.
Acknowledging the considerable risk, several towns in southern Spain have begun implementing proactive measures and prevention protocols, including the Huelva Tsunami Plan. This underscores a growing awareness and preparedness for potential tsunami events along spain’s diverse coastlines.
