tsunami

[LoukaFran]

Perhaps this is not the right moment but as the news continues about the dreadfull and devastating tidal waves I tried to find information about warning systems in Greece.

It seems there is no early warning system at the moment , only a sort of experimental program monotoring the area between Crete and the Peloponnese.

The danger spots seem to be the Western golf of Corinth, the Maliakos Gulf, the Cyclades, Crete, the Dodecanese, Chios and the coast of Western Greece.

A total of 83 large earthquakes created tsunamis.

Most of these earthquakes date to ancient times but in 1956 a 7.5 Richter quake in the Cyclades is said to have caused waves up to 25 meters high in Amorgos, 20 meters at Astypalaia and 5 meters at Crete.

Has anyone heard about these tsunamis ? What was caused them ?

Where in Crete did these waves come ?

At the moment I feel I would not dare to turn my back to the sea....

[Graham_and_Karen]

Something similar could happen in the Mediterranean but very unlikely to be anywhere near as bad as the tsunami that hit Indonesia, Sri Lanka etc. this link has some more information but I wouldn't get too concerned about it. Freak events like this are, thankfully very rare. http://www.drgeorgepc.com/TsunamiPotentialGreece.html

[Mike G]

I agree with Graham anf Karen about the size of the risk and I shalln't be concerned on my next Greek visit.

One of the cruel ironies of the recent events was that the seismologists monitoring the earthquake which caused the tsunami were immediately aware of what the consequences were and were frantically trying to alert the authorities. Sadly, as no early warning system exists for the Indian Ocean (unlike the Pacific, where these events are more common and there is an early warning system), those affected could not be warned.

I experienced my first earth tremor in Zakynthos in October, which was over before I really realised what it was. The locals take these minor tremors in their stride as they are quite common.

Mike

[hopper]

As far as I know, the Minoan culture was wiped out by a tsunami, after San Turini exploded. Just have a look at Knossos.
cheers Hopper

[LoukaFran]

Good news on this subject:

The director of the Hellenic Center of Marine Research has told the Associated Press this week that extra funding will be given to the monotoring project.

A reliable warning system could take several years to develop but new equipment will be installed and is due to arrive by May.

The costprice would be about 9 million euros.

[fraoula]

I experienced my first earth tremor in Zakynthos in October, which was over before I really realised what it was. The locals take these minor tremors in their stride as they are quite common.

Mike
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[/QUOTE]

I've never actually experienced  a tremor, although I would  agree with Mike on the fact that they are quite common in Greece and her islands.
 When Daskaloyannis lived in Rhodes he too experienced an Earth tremor, quite a big one! He'll probably tell the story better than I do!!

With recent events and thinking back to all the documentries over the past few years, is there really anywhere that's safe on this Earth!?

[fraoula]

I experienced my first earth tremor in Zakynthos in October, which was over before I really realised what it was. The locals take these minor tremors in their stride as they are quite common.

Mike
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[/QUOTE]

oops! double clicked.