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Pakistan to strengthen Tsunami Early Warning System
ISLAMABAD, July 24 : Tsunami Early Warning System (TEWS) will be strengthened by upgrading phase-I of its basic component seismological network of Pakistan Met. Department (PMD) with a total cost of Rs 193 million aimed at avoiding any calamity at the coastal areas of the country.
Director General Met. Officer, Dr Qamar-uz-Zaman said regarding up-gradation of seismological network of PMD (phase-I), a basic component of Tsunami Early Warning System.
Responding to a question regarding Tsunami events which occurred at the coastal area of Pakistan, the Director General said, “Tsunami is a very rare event and this tragedy occurred in 1945 at the coastal area of Pasni of Balochistan with earthquake measuring 8.3 at Richter scale with typhoon having about 40 feet waves height resulting in death toll of 4000 people of the coastal areas. This tragedy also affected hundreds of thousands of people who were made homeless due to Tsunami event.”
Tsunami tragedy of last year which affected millions of people having death toll of hundreds of thousands of people in various countries created awareness among South Asian Countries and forced them to establish or upgrade Tsunami Early Warning System for the monitoring of such calamity in the Indian Ocean.
When asked about such system in other countries, Dr.Qamar said, “Only Global Tsunami Centre is functioning having Pacific Region back up centre in Japan.”
Giving background of the up-gradation project of seismological system, he said that Prime Minister constituted a committee headed by Federal Minister for Science & Technology having representation from all the concerned departments to develop Tsunami Early Warning System in the country.
Keeping in view the havoc of Tsunami tragedy last year, the committee headed by Federal Minister for Science & Technology decided up-gradation and strengthening of seismological network phase-I after having a number of lengthy deliberations and meetings in this regard, the Director General said.
A number of relevant departments including National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Geological Survey of Pakistan, Hydrographic Unit of Pakistan Navy and Emergency Relief Cell of the Cabinet Division are cooperating as partner agencies with Pakistan Met. Department which is a leading agency for the execution of this project, he said.
The federal government has already allocated Rs. 40.200 million in the current financial year for the up-gradation of seismological network first phase-I which is basic component of the TEWS.
Pakistan Met Department developed the seismological monitoring system as a basic and first component of Early Warning System which is being now strengthened and upgraded aimed at establishing a very credible Tsunami Early Warning System having international standards and dependable data system, the Director General told the agency.
The Director General said, “Up-gradation of our present seismological network operating in the country will be made by installing fifteen state of the art broad band seismic centres in the country. These will be connected through satellite to the National Centre.”
Talking about the functioning of Tsunami Early Warning System, he said that earthquake information would be received and processed within few minutes of its occurrence.
In case of major earthquake especially if its centre is in the ocean than the Tsunami Early Warning can be issued by using ocean numerical models, he said.
Giving details about broad bands, Dr Qamar-uz-Zaman said besides, these broad bands fifty short bands and fifty strong motions seismo-graphics would be installed in major cities and towns of the country including the federal and provincial capitals.
Talking about functioning of these broad bands, he said that these instruments would provide micro seismicity of those areas which would be used for building core designing besides other research purposes.