Malta is located in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea and is densely populated especially at coastal areas. The Mediterranean Sea is seismically active with large earthquakes in Greece, Italy, and Turkey; principally as the result of the collision of Eurasian and African plates. The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami has raised a number of urgent issues regarding tsunami, and has pointed out the lack of a clear international strategy of how to deal with these mega-events. These questions have raised some concerns on potential risks in the Mediterranean Region.
The Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System (TWS) in the North-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas (ICG/NEAMTWS) was created (June, 2005) in response to the Indian Ocean Tsunami with the clear mandate for the implementation of the TWS in the NEAM Region.
The IOI has organised a number of workshops and meetings since November 2008 to assist Malta in planning and implementing its tsunami early warning and mitigation system. Recently, the Civil Protection Department (CPD) as a Tsunami Warning Focal Point (TWP) for Malta under the ICG/NEAMTWS in collaboration with key organisations in Malta and the IOI participated in the first Tsunami Exercise in the NEAM Region on 28th November 2012 to assess the national and local warning dissemination and response mechanisms.
The Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on “Tsunamis Awareness, Mitigation and Preparedness for Tourism sector, Marina & Yacht clubs, Schools and Communities in Malta” will be organised by IOI in collaboration with the Institute of Earth Systems (IES), University of Malta; the Civil Protection Department of Malta (CPD), the Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security; and the Ministry of Education and Employment, with financial support from the IOI and the Middlesea Insurance p.l.c during 23rd -24th May 2013 at the University of Malta. This will be attended by about 30 participants including international and national experts, representatives from the Civil Protection Department (CPD), Ministry for Education and Employment, Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), St. John Recue Corps, MCAST Maritime Institute, University of Malta, local councils, schools and private companies, etc.
The aim of the workshop is to provide stakeholders with an overview of the Northeast Atlantic, Mediterranean and Connected Seas Tsunami Warning System (NEAMTWS), case studies, and relevant development of end-to-end tsunami early warning and mitigation systems, and to plan and discuss ways to implement tsunami awareness, mitigation and preparedness for schools and communities, tourism sector and marina & yacht clubs in Malta.