Almost
seven years after the devastating tsunami of 2004, more than 20 nations* will
participate on 12 October in a full-scale exercise to test the Indian Ocean
Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System.
This exercise, organized under the auspices of
UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, will also see
responsibility for the issue of advisories handed over to the countries of the
region through a new regional tsunami advisory service.
The scenario established for the “Exercise
IOWAVE 11” re-enacts the events of 26 December 2004, with a 9.2 magnitude
earthquake off the North West coast of Sumatra (Indonesia), followed by an
ocean-wide tsunami. This simulated wave will cross the Indian Ocean in 12 hours
to strike the coast of South Africa. Bulletins will be issued by the new
Regional Tsunami Service Providers (RTSPs) in Australia, India and Indonesia**.
UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova will mark
the transition of responsibility for the tsunami warning system with a video
address to the authorities of the three countries on 12 October (8.30 a.m.,
Paris time).
The exercise aims to evaluate the system’s
operational capacity, the efficiency of communications among the different
actors, and the state of preparation of national emergency services. The test
will also include the evacuation of coastal communities in several countries,
notably India and Malaysia.
The Indian Ocean nations decided to establish
an Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWS) in the wake of
the 2004 catastrophe. They requested that UNESCO’s Intergovernmental
Oceanographic Commission establish an Intergovernmental Coordination Group to
provide a governance mechanism for the new system, which became partially
operational in 2005.
Since then, bulletins have been issued to 28
Indian Ocean nations by the Japan Meteorological Agency and Pacific Tsunami
Warning Center. They will continue to provide this service until the end of
2012, at which time an evaluation of the new regional advisory service will be
carried out.
This much needed service is long overdue and
in operation could save many lives.
*To date: Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros,
France (La RĂ©union), India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Seychelles,
Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor Leste, Yemen.
** as well as the Regional Integrated
Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) and the Interim Advisory Service
providers, Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
(PTWC)
David Swartzemtruber
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