Experts say tsunami in Europe is 100% certain

According to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, a tsunami measuring over 1 meter (3.2 feet) will hit the Mediterranean in the next 30 years. The danger zone is reported to be the Averroes fault beneath the Alboran Sea, which is halfway between Spain's Málaga coast and North Africa. This, naturally, raises concerns about the potential impact on coastal regions: just how deadly would a Mediterranean tsunami be?For the answers to these questions and more, don't delay in reading through this gallery. Click through now!

The Mediterranean

The Mediterranean Sea sits between Southern Europe and North Africa. On the European side, it touches countries like Spain, France, Italy, and Greece. Across the sea, you have the North African nations of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, as well as Libya, Egypt, and Israel in the Middle East. 

The Alboran Sea

According to the Spanish newspaper La Razon, the danger zone is the Averroes fault beneath the Alboran Sea, located in the western part of the Mediterranean between the Málaga coast and North Africa.

What is a fault line?

A fault line is a crack or break in the Earth's surface where two pieces of the Earth's crust move past each other. A tsunami is caused when an underwater fault line moves suddenly, usually due to an earthquake.

Western Mediterranean

If there was an earthquake near Algeria, a tsunami could cross the sea to Spain within an hour and 15 minutes.

Tsunami warning systems

Tsunami warning systems use a network of sensors and buoys in the ocean to measure changes in sea level. When an earthquake occurs, these sensors can detect abnormal waves and issue early warnings.

How deadly would a Mediterranean tsunami be?

According to records, there have been around 100 tsunamis in the Mediterranean and surrounding seas since the beginning of the 20th century. This works out to approximately 10% of the world's total tsunamis for the period.

1755 Lisbon earthquake

Tsunamis in the northeast Atlantic are less common, but in 1755 an 8.5 magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami that destroyed most of Lisbon, Portugal's capital city.

2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami

On March 11, 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake off the northeastern coast of Japan triggered a tsunami up to 30 meters high (100 feet) that washed up to five kilometers (three miles) inland.

2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami

On December 26, 2004, an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.2-9.3 struck with an epicenter off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia.

It's not just the size of the tsunami that is a concern

While the size of the tsunami is extremely hazardous, the flows and fluxes of the water and flooding can cause damage to beaches, streets, and harbors.

Spain

In Spain, the State Plan for Civil Protection against the Risk of Tsunamis has an early-warning system to identify underwater earthquakes, and a plan for authorities to keep the public safe.

Unusual sea fluctuations

If the sea suddenly recedes, exposing the ocean floor, or water levels suddenly rise, a tsunami may be approaching.

Evacuate on foot

Roads may become damaged or blocked after an earthquake, so try to walk on open ground as much as possible. You should also leave the roads clear for emergency vehicles to pass through.

Stay out of coastal areas

Stay out of coastal areas until authorities issue an "all clear."