Dutch earthquake researcher Frank Hoogerbeets sparked controversy on social media on Tuesday by warning of a tsunami occurring in the Mediterranean basin.
This came after an earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale struck the Greek island of Crete, in addition to the closure of some beaches in coastal cities such as Alexandria and Port Said following turbulent sea conditions and receding waters.
A tsunami in the Mediterranean?
Some experts predict the possibility of earthquakes occurring in some countries overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, which may cause high waves and strong currents on the beaches of coastal governorates.
The executive authorities issued warnings preventing citizens from accessing many beaches in Alexandria, Port Said, Port Fouad, Kafr al-Sheikh, Damietta, Beheira, and Dakahlia, until further notice.
Nothing to worry about
The National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) in an official statement answered concerns about a possible tsunami in the the Mediterranean Sea.
The statement explained that through the institute’s seismic monitoring stations, which are spread throughout Egypt and through following up on international seismic monitoring stations in the Mediterranean, it found no heightened risk of earthquakes in the Mediterranean with no atypical seismic activities.
The vice-chairman of UNESCO’s International Tsunami Early Warning Committee (IOC Tsunami) Amr Hamouda, said that the closure of some beaches is due to a disturbance in the sea due to rising waves resulting from a change in weather conditions and wind activity.
This has nothing to do with tsunamis, or the Crete earthquake, he assured.
Hamouda added that the earthquake south of Crete will not cause any risk of tsunami waves in the Mediterranean, as strong tsunami waves start from earthquakes exceeding seven on the richter scale.
What is a tsunami?
Tsunami is a Japanese word that means “harbor wave.” These are major waves caused by the displacement of a large amount of water, usually in a vast ocean or lake.
They may be caused by natural phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and underwater explosions.
The Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 was the largest in modern history, as it killed about 230,000 people, in addition to causing massive and widespread destruction.
