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Earthquakes: how to prepare at home and before you travel

Prepare for earthquakes: a practical guide

⏱ 3 min read

Furniture, three moves, travel. A guide based on official advice. The same text is in the free SurvivalZone.app and works without internet.

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Strong earthquakes are rare in much of northern and central Europe, but common in the south: in Italy, Greece, Croatia, Turkey and parts of the Balkans. Millions of people travel there every year.

Preparing takes a few habits at home and a few minutes before you travel.

Secure your home

  1. Fix tall wardrobes and bookcases to the wall.
  2. Put heavy things on lower shelves.
  3. Do not hang heavy pictures or mirrors above the bed.
  4. Know how to turn off gas, water and electricity.

Remember three moves

  1. During shaking, the safest thing is to drop to your knees, take cover under a sturdy table or by an inside wall, protect your head and neck, and hold on until the shaking stops. Do not run outside during the shaking: many injuries are caused by things falling near exits.
  2. Practise it with children. A move your body has learned comes by itself when there is no time to think.

Before travelling to an earthquake area

  1. Read your government's travel advice and register your trip if your country offers that.
  2. Save the local emergency number and the address of your embassy or consulate.
  3. In the hotel, check the escape routes and assembly point.
  4. By the sea: strong shaking on the coast can mean a tsunami. Move away from the shore and uphill without waiting for an announcement.

After the shaking

  1. Keep a torch by the bed, shoes and a bag with water and a first aid kit. After an earthquake there may be broken glass and aftershocks.

Checklist

  1. Wardrobes and bookcases fixed to the wall
  2. Heavy things low down
  3. You know how to turn off gas and water
  4. Practised: drop, cover, hold on
  5. Torch and shoes by the bed
  6. Trip registered with your government
  7. Local emergency number saved

See also

Frequently asked questions

What should I do in an earthquake inside a building?

Drop, take cover under a sturdy table or by an inside wall, protect your head and hold on until the shaking ends. Do not run outside during the shaking.

Where in Europe are earthquakes most common?

In the south: Italy, Greece, Croatia, Turkey and parts of the Balkans, as well as Iceland.

How do I prepare for an earthquake before a holiday?

Read your government's travel advice, save the local emergency number and check the escape routes in your hotel.

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Sources

Official sources are checked automatically every day. Last check: 2026-11-04.

General guidance only; it does not replace the emergency services. If a life is in danger, call 112.