Taiwan boosts Solomon Islands disaster early warning system

Taiwan boosts Solomon Islands disaster early warning system

An Observation Research program is currently underway to assist the Meteorological Service and the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) monitor natural disasters in the country.

Called the Tsunami, Earthquake, and Cyclone (TEC) project, it was being headed by a team from the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) of Taiwan.

As part of the project, 14 small seismic detectors, two sets of R8 satellite petitioners, two sets of QQ330, as well as five sets of Trillium120 instruments were installed at the Meteorological office in Honiara.

The project came about after the CWB and the Meteorological society of the Republic of China have maintained frequent and close communication with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) as well as the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS) , since 2013.

This has further led to the country learnt of the danger that past disasters has caused to its people and expressed the urgency and necessity of improving its weather forecasting capabilities, strengthening its observation systems, training technical staff, as well as appropriate response in facing tropical cyclones and other extreme weather systems

It is believed that the project would be beneficial for the country and the CWB team, National Taiwan University and the Meteorological Society of the ROC can carry out a research project on real-time observation of Tsunami, Earthquake, and Cyclone (TEC) program) in the Solomon Islands.

Director of the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS) David Hiba said that the project will be very helpful to his department and the country.

“Floods and tsunamis are the common and deadly disasters in the Solomon Islands,” Mr Hiba said.

“The Program between Solomon Islands Meteorological Service, other Government agencies and CWB is looking at providing an early warning system for such disasters,” he added.

“Hopefully with the completion of the Tsunami, Earthquake and Cyclone (TEC) early warning system within the next three years, warnings can be provided to the public in an ample time.”

The program will also collaborate with other initiatives already happening in the country to build a robust and sustainable system to help the people receive accurate and timely information before the impact of a disaster.

ENDS

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