USAID sets up tsunami warning system in Indian Ocean

New Delhi, Wednesday (PTI) An Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System programme has been launched by the US Agency for International Development for development of systems for early detection of tsunamis and other coastal hazards in the ocean.

"The two-year 16.6 million dollar effort will contribute to the development of integrated early warning and mitigation systems that will let countries in the Indian Ocean region detect and prepare for tsunami and other coastal hazards," a release from the US embassy said here.

The programme involves several US agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), US Geological Survey, US Trade and Development Agency and the US Forest Service.

The US technical assistance would primarily support efforts in Indonesia, SRI LANKA, India, Thailand and the Maldives, it said adding the programme involves close collaboration with the Inter-governmental Oceanograhic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, which has the lead responsibility for the multinational effort to develop the Indian Ocean's regional warning capabilities, it said.

NOAA would support deployment of detection buoys and other technologies in the Indian Ocean, work with the World Meteorological Organisation to strengthen national and regional warning communications systems and implement a tsunami-resilient communities programme, it said.

Until a regional system is operational, NOAA's Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii and the National Earthquake Information Centre in Colorado would detect earthquakes and possible tsunami conditions in Indian Ocean, it said.