Workshop on Beach and Coastal Resort Risks Malta 24th September 2018 Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Insular Coastal Dynamics (ICoD) Institute of Earth Systems University of Malta

The Maltese Islands Map showing the central Mediterranean position of the Maltese Islands 2. A detail of the main islands indicating an elevated south south-west coast and a low lying north north east coast as a consequence of tectonic uplift resulting in a south west to north east tilt of the islands. This has given rise to a sheer cliffs (on the southern coast), a generally an often heavily developed gently sloping coast on the northern coast and a combination of sandy beaches and gently sloping rocky shores (that have been heavily utelised for coastal development often used as bathing platforms) some of which have seen the development of either traditional fishing villages Or coastal resorts, all with minor elevation above sea level

Yacht marinas as an economic resource also at risk to Tsunamis

BEACH & COASTAL RESORTS RISKS History of the project : Long-standing (2012 ….) cooperation between several EUR-OPA Specialised Centres; series of projects supported by EUR-OPA CERU, Portugal – ICOD, Malta – CEPRIS, Morocco.

Beach & Coastal Resort Risks 2-yr project initiative; beach & coastal resort risks in Malta, Portugal, Morocco;  wider scope on seismic and tsunami coastal risks mitigation; establishment of network of Tsunami Ready Communities Beach and Coastal Resort Risks project   In 2017, the Council of Europe's  EU-OPA Major Hazards Agreement approved a two-year project initiative to address Beach and Coastal Resort Risks in Malta, Portugal and Morocco.  While this project aims to develop and implement seismic and tsunami coastal risks mitigation in general, it intends to contribute in particular, to the potential establishment of a Tsunami Ready Community in these countries.

Beach & Coastal Resort Risks project Workshop aim: introduction of Tsunami Ready Community concept. Investigating potential of local establishment of TRBeaches & TRHotels. Beach and Coastal Resort Risks project One of the prime aims of this workshop will be the introduction of the Tsunami Ready Community concept via the proposed establishment of Tsunami Ready Beaches and Tsunami Ready Hotels in Malta and Gozo.

In addition to seismic triggers, the Mediterranean is also susceptible to Volcanic & underwater landslides Landslide At Mt. Etna Generated A Large Tsunami In The Mediterranean Sea Nearly 7-8000 Years Ago he Mt. Etna avalanche sent 6 cubic miles of rock and sediment tumbling into the water—enough material to cover the entire island of Manhattan in a layer of debris thicker than the Empire State Building is tall. The mountain of rubble crashed into the water at more than 200 mph. It pummeled the sea bed, transformed thick layers of soft marine sediment into jelly and triggered an underwater mudslide that flowed for hundreds of miles. South eastern flank is moving both above and below sea level, generating gravitational instability. In May 2017, they recorded that the South-Eastern flank moved an entire 4cm in just 8 day. this study suggest Etna's flank movement in fact poses a greater hazard than previously thought."

US ‘ TsunamiReady® ’ (2001, US NWS, NTHMP) Guidelines for standard level of capability to mitigate, prepare for, and respond to tsunamis. Promote community preparedness – minimize risk through better risk assessment, planning, education, warning communications 16 states, territories, 195 recognized Communities (29 Mar 2016). Intl ‘ Tsunami Ready ’ (UNESCO IOC, Feb 2016) Modelled after US TsunamiReady Priority: increasing focus on awareness in communities / authorities via communication, exercises, training, information, preparedness & recognition programmes.

Tsunami Ready Initiatives Caribbean /Pacific Indian Ocean Anguilla (UK) and British Virgin Islands (UK) (2014/2017*) St. Kitts and Nevis (2016) Tsunami Ready pilots are underway in Fort Liberte, Haiti, St Patrick, Grenada, and Holetown, Barbados Cedeño, Honduras, Ostional, Costa Rica and Savaia, Samoa (2017) New projects underway to support more communities in Central America & Caribbean countries 10 Indicators India & Oman Indian Ocean Tsunami Ready regional Workshop Task Team on Capacity Assessment & Tsunami Preparedness. Adaption the TR Indicator of Caribbean, adding one indicator becoming 11 Indicators Need a resilience approach-Continuum

TSUNAMI READY BEACH INITIATIVE IN THE MALTESE ISLANDS Preparing for the Next Tsunami: Reducing Losses and Damages in the Coastal Western Mediterranean Areas. IOC/UNESCO-ISESCO Workshop Rabat, Morocco, 15-16 Nov. 2018 TSUNAMI READY BEACH INITIATIVE IN THE MALTESE ISLANDS Anton Micallef Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Insular Coastal Dynamics (ICoD)

Beach & Coastal Resort Risks project There is a dangerous belief that by promoting tsunamis awareness & preparedness, you will scare away tourists. We have evidence that this is false and it is our responsibility to act on this knowledge.