Vietnam tests first tsunami alert system

Vietnam began preparing the alert system following the Asian tsunami of December 26, 2004, which killed more than 220,000 people around the region, although not in Vietnam, in one of the world`s worst natural disasters.

Hanoi: Vietnam has tested its first
tsunami warning system, the builder said on Monday, in an effort
to prevent a massive loss of life if giant waves strike the
coast.

Vietnam began preparing the alert system following the
Asian tsunami of December 26, 2004, which killed more than
220,000 people around the region, although not in Vietnam,
in one of the world`s worst natural disasters.

The trial, which involved two of 10 alert stations
along the central Vietnam coast, was successful, according to
Dinh Duc Thang, assistant director at Viettel Telecom`s office
in Danang.

"Sirens wailed 10 minutes after these two stations
received alert signals" from the local geophysics institute,
said Thang, whose military-owned firm built the system.

"All went well, as planned", he said, adding that the
other eight stations will be tested later this year.

A decision would be made later on whether to extend
the warning system to other points along the central coast,
another Viettel official said earlier.

Vietnam is occasionally touched by minor earthquakes
but was not affected by the 2004 disaster or the 9.1-magnitude
earthquake and a huge tsunami that battered Japan`s
northeastern coast in March this year.

But Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai said
Vietnam needs to be prepared for natural disasters.

"Disasters are proving very worrying and Vietnam is
also facing complicated increasing problems associated with
climate change," he was quoted as saying in the official
Vietnam News.

"So the quicker we act, the less effect there be on
people and the economy."

PTI

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