June 27, 2003 Tsunami: Adriatic Sea, Croatia

Local newspapers and other media reported that ‘‘a giant tidal wave flushed all away” upon hitting Stari Grad and Mali Ston Bays on 27 June 2003 around 04:00 UTC and 5:30–07:00 UTC, respectively. In Stari Grad Bay, two meteotsunami waves were reported by eyewitnesses; the larger wave resulted in a flood height of 1.3 m above the ground. The maximum sea level height was marked at a number of houses in Stari Grad (Fig. 2b). That means (by adding ground height versus mean sea level) that the wave height was approximately 3.5 m. It is reported that ‘‘the mad sea” played with cars, garbage containers, tables and chairs, and damages were reported in the bars and restaurants, shops, tourist board offices, as well as on houses and street walls.

By contrast, the damage in Mali Ston Bay during the 2003 meteotsunami was not a result of strong sea level oscillations, but of severe currents at the bay constrictions (Vilibic et al., 2004). Strong turbulent currents swept out the shellfish farms over the 6 km long area, causing one MEuro damage and stopping shellfish production for a while. It can be noted that Mali Ston Bay is the most important area for production of the European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) and Black mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) (e.g. Peharda et al., 2007).

(reference #10630)