Government proposes tsunami early warning system
BUTTERWORTH: The Government has proposed to establish a tsunami early warning system, in the country to alert the public about any possible tsunami should an earthquake occur in the region, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Monday.
He said the system was necessary to avoid tragedies and the loss of lives, like what the country experienced on Sunday.
"We will get all the appropriate sources to help us in establishing the early warning system," he said, adding that experts from Japan would be invited for this purpose because that country had a comprehensive tsunami early warning system.
He told reporters at the Royal Malaysian Air Force base in Butterworth Monday that the country has been put on the alert for a possible second wave of tsunami because the epicentre of the earthquake near Sumatra had yet to stabilise.
He said aftershocks with a reading of 5 on the Richter Scale could still be felt around the earthquake area and he advised the public to avoid coastal areas.
Najib, accompanied by Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Bakri Omar, visited several areas affected by tidal waves in Penang and Kedah.
Responding to a question Najib said the Meteorological Service Department Seismology division could only obtain information on shocks but it did not have the facility to predict tidal waves.
He also advised the public not to listen to rumours including that the Penang Bridge would be closed to traffic because it was not safe for use.
"I have checked with Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu about the bridge and all other major infrastructures, and he confirmed that these structures were not affected at all.
"The Public Works Department had checked the Penang Bridge after the tremors and the department is satisfied with its condition."
Najib also said that the Government would give RM1,000 each to those families that had lost their loved ones and another RM200 each to those who sustained injuries.
Families who had to evacuate would get RM200 each and the aid would be paid out immediately.
He said the government recorded 51 deaths throughout the country, 218 injuries while nine people were still missing.
Penang recorded the highest number of death with 36 cases, Kedah (10), Perak (4) and Selangor (1).
Eight evacuation centres, have also been activated with two in Kedah and six in Penang, have been activated.
Elaborating on the tsunami alert system, Meteorological Services seismology division director Low Kong Chiew said that Malaysia planned to work with other Asian countries on a regional basis.
The countries in the proposed network were likely to include Singapore, Brunei, Thailand and Sri Lanka, he saidin an interview.
Low said that for this alert system to work, certain instruments must be placed in the oceans to detect any possible aftershock or tsunami.
"Without such gadgets or sensors, we can’t detect possible waves or future incidents," he added.
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