Earthquake in Turkey, Civil Protection: tsunami alert for Italy

(ANSA) - ROME, FEBRUARY 06 - Based on the data processed by the Tsunami Alert Center (Cat) of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (Ingv), the Civil Protection Department has issued an alert for possible tsunami waves arriving on the Italian coast in following the shock of a magnitude 7.9 earthquake with its epicenter between Turkey and Syria at 2:17.

In a statement, the Civil Protection "recommends moving away from the coastal areas, reaching the higher nearby area and following the instructions of the local authorities".

   "The tsunami - explains the note from the Civil Protection - consists of a series of sea waves produced by the rapid movement of a large mass of water. The alert indicates the possibility of a real danger for people who are near the coast, especially if in areas that are not very high, or even lower, than sea level. Even a wave of only 0.5 meters in height - it is underlined in the press release - can generate dangerous floods and very strong currents. The Department of Civil Protection, in collaboration with Ingv , the Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (Ispra) and the structures of the National Civil Protection Service (Snpc), will continue to provide all available updates on the evolution of the event", concludes the note.

(HANDLE).