Avoiding natural disasters when travelling?

[White Heather]

The reality is that most if the places we go for our holidays abroad are Earthquake zones. Italy, Greece, Turkey and even Spain and Portugal are areas where Earthquakes occur regularly. The Iberian peninsular tends to have frequent quakes of lower magnitude, but, they have in the past had very bad quakes, notably at Lisbon and Seville. Another is always a possibility.

Italy has had major quakes in recent years and just to keep things interesting, has Europe's two largest and most active volcanoes too.

The Greek Islands are all prone to Earthquakes, and some of those have been big ones too. Kefalonia had a bad one not long after WW2.

Turkey is a huge country but the East and West are both very prone to major quakes. Istanbul is on a major fault line and a quake there is highly likely at some time, but the standard if buildings is much higher than in the East where building them Quake proof isn't a priority if it's considered at all.

The reality is, if we booked our holidays to avoid places that might have an Earthquake while we are there, then there aren't many places left to go.

 

[Aviador]

I recall a holiday in Marmaris, Turkey where I felt an earthquake shake the hotel lobby. The building rocked from side to side but hotel staff didn't flinch at all. I guess they feel them regularly in these parts.
#NaturalDisasters #Earthquake

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

The reality is, if we booked our holidays to avoid places that might have an Earthquake while we are there, then there aren't many places left to go.

Very well articulated but this last sentence. It’s the reality. And Blighty doesn’t do it for majority of people.

 

[Aviador]

I think the most likely places to have an earthquake are around the ring of fire although not exclusively as the latest earthquake proves.

Earthquakes aren't the only natural disasters we need to be aware of when travelling. Although often associated with earthquakes, Tsunamis are more common than most people imagine. There are plenty of volcanos which could erupt at anytime and a ski trip to the slopes could easily land you in the middle of an avalanche.

Has anyone had a near miss with a natural disaster while travelling?

In this instance I don't think people will be put off from booking holidays in Turkey. In two or three weeks most people will have sadly already forgotten about the latest earthquake and lives lost. They will have moved on with their lives.

 

[Seasider]

We were about 50 miles from the epicentre of the latest earthquake in 2016 whilst in New Zealand. I think it was 7.2 magnitude.

 

[Aviador]

Wow @Seasider what was the experience like. I'm guessing frightening!

 

[Seasider]

We had just gone to bed about 11.30pm, about 30 mins later I felt the room shaking and an audible alarm telling us to vacate the building. Got up, put a coat and shoes on and vacated. We were on the first floor of a 3 storey building and evacuated to the road where the coach was parked, 80m away.
Everybody got out OK but some had not put coats or footwear on. The register was taken, after about 30 mins we were allowed on the coach. About 1 hour later we were allowed back into the hotel after the local Fire Brigade had checked the building.
The only damage we could see (to the public rooms) was crockery/glasses on the floor and a couple of tables turned over. We were allowed to call home to tell them we were OK (before they heard of the earthquake). Another 15 mins we were allowed back into our rooms where we duly fell asleep quite quickly.
The following morning I bought a newspaper and immediately put it in the bottom of the suitcase until I read it when we were back home.
Our route to Christchurch should have taken us through the epicentre so we had to make a detour via the west coast. We continued our tour around South Island and came home about 9 days later.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

The reality is that most if the places we go for our holidays abroad are Earthquake zones. Italy, Greece, Turkey and even Spain and Portugal are areas where Earthquakes occur regularly. The Iberian peninsular tends to have frequent quakes of lower magnitude, but, they have in the past had very bad quakes, notably at Lisbon and Seville. Another is always a possibility.

Italy has had major quakes in recent years and just to keep things interesting, has Europe's two largest and most active volcanoes too.

The Greek Islands are all prone to Earthquakes, and some of those have been big ones too. Kefalonia had a bad one not long after WW2.

Turkey is a huge country but the East and West are both very prone to major quakes. Istanbul is on a major fault line and a quake there is highly likely at some time, but the standard if buildings is much higher than in the East where building them Quake proof isn't a priority if it's considered at all.

The reality is, if we booked our holidays to avoid places that might have an Earthquake while we are there, then there aren't many places left to go.

Not forgetting Volcanoes!

 

[White Heather]

Not forgetting Volcanoes!

Yes, and I did refer to volcanoes where I mention Italy.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Yes, and I did refer to volcanoes where I mention Italy.

Sorry you do.