FLASH
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A tsunami at least one meter high could hit the Mediterranean in the next 30 years, according to data and estimates published by UNESCO, raising concerns about the preparation of coastal areas.
According to the organization, statistics show that there is a very high probability that a tsunami will occur in the Mediterranean within the next three decades, although these waves are usually smaller than those that occur in large oceans.
One of the areas considered most at risk is the French Riviera, where such a wave could reach the coast in just 10 minutes, posing a risk to tens of thousands of people, especially during the tourist season.
France has a national tsunami warning system, which can detect earthquakes that could cause large waves and send an alert to authorities in less than 15 minutes. However, the system is designed primarily for earthquakes that occur over large distances and may not immediately identify local events, such as underwater landslides.
According to Frédéric Leone, a researcher at the University of Montpellier, the metropolitan area of Nice and the Côte d'Azur is particularly exposed due to dense urbanization, intense tourist activity and very busy beaches.
According to estimates based on photographic analysis and computer models, between 10,000 and 87,000 people could be in areas that need to be evacuated during periods of high visitor numbers.
For this reason, experts emphasize the need for regular evacuation drills and additional safety measures.
Warning signs of a tsunami include strong or prolonged shaking of the ground, a loud roar from the sea, and sudden changes in water levels near the shore. In such cases, experts recommend that people immediately move to higher ground or to the upper floors of buildings.
According to historical data, around 20 tsunamis have been recorded along the French Riviera from the 16th century to the early 2000s, with waves that in some cases exceeded two meters in height.
One of the most severe cases occurred in 1979, when an underwater landslide near a construction site triggered a tsunami that left eight dead and caused extensive damage in Antibes, Cannes and Nice.
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