Tsunami warning system to be tested in Caribbean

Maximum amplitudes of the modeled Caribbean tsunami

UNITED NATIONS — Thirty-three countries will participate next week in the Caribbean region’s first full-scale tsunami warning exercise as part of United Nations-backed efforts to test and strengthen the region’s defences against such disasters.

Next Wednesday’s exercise, Caribe Wave 11, aims to test the early warning system for tsunamis and other coastal hazards set up in the region in 2005 by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) established under the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The exercise will be based on a fictional earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale and located off the coast of the United States Virgin Islands, UNESCO reported in a press release issued on Thursday.

It should highlight the effectiveness of tsunami warning mechanisms, weather forecast offices, national coast guards and other relevant offices.

Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, said last week’s catastrophic quake and tsunami in Japan “have clearly shown the crucial importance of emergency arrangements. The development of a coordinated system in the Caribbean appears in this context to be more pertinent than ever.”

Similar exercises have taken place previously in both the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions. In the Caribbean, at least 75 tsunamis have been recorded in the past 500 years, with more than 3,500 deaths attributed to them.

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6 Comments

  1. jim
    March 20, 2011

    finialy some one has said of the canary island will the goverment tel the people and what move are we taking can people stop making homes by the sea.

  2. Gabo
    March 18, 2011

    It may not only be Tsunami we have to worry about. At least we in Dominica can move to the hills, But now I have read that Traces of radiation from Japanese nuclear plant have surfaced in California – (CNN.com) Are we to be worried?

  3. En Ba La
    March 18, 2011

    Just looking at the USGS website which monitors earthquakes around the globe – see the Mona Passage next to puerto rico seems to be an active spot.

    I read or heard this somewhere has anyone heard of this – the Canary Islands is an area of concern the potential for a major landslide thereby causing a mega tsunami -concern for the east coast US and the caribbean too.

    Admin help me here – you are the news person help me validate my story

    Admin: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/08/040815234801.htm
    http://www.rense.com/general56/tsu.htm
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3963563.stm
    http://www.lapalma-tsunami.com/tsunami.html

    Hope this helps

  4. 10.5
    March 18, 2011

    I wonder if Mr. Nathanael Isaac, National Disaster Coordinator is going to make a statement on this.

    • Anonymous
      March 18, 2011

      true statement, i waiting to hear.

  5. Anonymous
    March 18, 2011

    Good looking out!

    And with twitter and facebook once this works 100% ill get the instant updat and run to the mountains.

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