Rabat – Jorf Lasfar port, located on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, has been equipped with a tide gauge and warning system to monitor tides and alert in the event of a tsunami.
The new system aims to minimize the impact of such natural disasters and enhance the country’s preparedness, Moroccan channel 2M reported.
The initiative was launched by the Marine-Earth Sciences and Soil Sciences Laboratory at the University of El Jadida, in collaboration with the National Center for Scientific and Technical Research, in partnership with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO), under the “CoastWef” project.
According to the coordinators of the project, the new system aims to predict natural disasters resulting from tsunamis, enabling the implementation of appropriate response measures.
Professor Khalid Al-Khalidi, the project coordinator, emphasized the dual purpose of installing the tide gauge at the Jorf Lasfar Port.
He explained that it continuously measures sea level and instantly transmits data, which is vital for climate research and monitoring sea level changes. In addition, it serves to detect sudden fluctuations in sea level.
“The installation of this device is aimed at predicting tsunamis, allowing timely alerts that align with the response capabilities of the relevant authorities,” SNRTNews quoted him as saying.
The Faculty of Sciences in El Jadida organized a training day for 20 technicians on Wednesday, focusing on the importance and technical aspects of the tide gauge and warning system.
The installation of the tsunami alert system comes in the wake of a recent earthquake that hit central Morocco, stirring concerns among researchers about heightened seismic activity in the region.
Some have predicted a potential offshore earthquake and its potential to trigger a tsunami.
