The first National Workshop on Tsunami Preparedness took place on 11 July 2023 at the Salini Resort in St. Paul’s Bay. The event, organised by the Department of Geosciences, under the auspices of IOC-UNESCO and the CoastWAVE project, brought together key stakeholders involved in tsunami alert and response planning. The workshop provided a platform for approximately 45 participants, representing entities such as the Civil Protection Department (CPD), Armed Forces of Malta, Malta Police Force, Mater Dei Hospital, Transport Malta, Enemalta and several Local Councils.
The workshop was opened by Mr. Peter Paul Coleiro, Director General of the Civil Protection Department, standing in for the Minister for Home Affairs, Security, Reforms and Equality, and by the University Rector, Prof. Alfred Vella. Dr Denis Chang-Seng and Dr Derya Vennin, from IOC-UNESCO, introduced participants to the UN Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme and the components of end-to-end tsunami warning chains and the standardized operating procedures (SOPs) framework. This intervention led to an engaging discussion from the participants, who voiced their various concerns about the warning system, the lack of a 24-hour Tsunami Warning Centre, and the need for a holistic tsunami risk assessment on a national scale.
The session included a series of informative presentations regarding crucial aspects of tsunami preparedness. Ms Blanca Mendiguren, Research Support Officer on the CoastWAVE project at the University of Malta shared the tsunami modelling results and inundation maps of Marsaxlokk and Birzebbugia, together with proposed evacuation plans. Prof. Pauline Galea then presented real-time tsunami monitoring facilities at the Department of Geosciences, using SeisComP and Toast software, and the corresponding procedures to inform and advise CPD. Mr. Fredrick Sammut, Chief Rescue Officer at CPD, provided insights into the full-scale exercise organised at Marsaxlokk for the Last Mile project in 2021, highlighting achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.
The workshop concluded with an interactive hands-on activity, where participants collaborated to organize in chronological order a set of 20 events and procedures relevant to a hypothetical tsunami scenario. The exercise sparked lively discussions and underscored the importance of SOPs for effective response.
Finally, emphasis was placed on identifying the roles and responsibilities of the various entities involved in tsunami response, securing adequate funding, and developing a national tsunami response plan that integrates with other contingency strategies. Overall, the workshop contributed to identifying areas for improvement and provided a space for all stakeholders to voice their concerns and opinions, as well as to make known the ongoing efforts that are being made by various entities.
