A Costa de la Luz town has drawn up a tsunami emergency plan amid warnings the threat along southern Spain’s coastline ‘cannot be ignored’.

Chiclana de la Frontera has approved a new local strategy designed to deal with potential tidal waves and has now sent it to the Andalucian government for final approval.

Officials say the plan sets out how to respond if disaster strikes, including evacuation routes, safe zones and how residents would be warned.

‘This is a basic but essential plan to deal with possible emergencies caused by tsunamis,’ said civil protection councillor Jose Vera.

He also issued a stark warning about the wider risk, adding: ‘The risk of tsunamis on the Andalucian coast exists, it is undeniable,’ pointing to seismic activity in the Gulf of Cadiz as the main concern.

The blueprint maps out the areas most at risk, including the Sancti Petri peninsula, stretches of coastline between Torre Bermeja and Torre del Puerco, and low-lying marshland zones such as Carbonero, Los Gallos and La Coquina.

In the event of a major incident, residents in these areas would be directed to higher ground using pre-planned escape routes, with designated meeting points set up for safety.

Vera said the document also clearly sets out how emergencies would be handled, explaining that it includes ‘procedures for activation, different emergency levels and protocols for warning and informing the population’, as well as coordination between emergency services to ensure a fast and effective response.

He added: ‘We are taking an important step by having this local tsunami risk plan, which adds to other tools already available to the council.’

Officials stressed the plan has been developed in coordination with regional authorities to ensure it meets all legal requirements.

Now, the focus will turn to making sure residents know exactly what to do. Emergency planners say public awareness will be key, with campaigns planned to help people understand evacuation routes and how to react if the alarm is ever raised.

‘Now it’s time to share what the plan contains and build a culture of safety,’ said emergency coordinator Diego Benitez, who insisted residents should not panic, adding that simply moving to higher ground would be enough to stay safe in most cases.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.