Early warning system tested in Padang<\/p>\n
Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post, Padang<\/p>\n
Some 5,000 residents in West Sumatra capital city of Padang left
\ntheir belongings and houses behind them in the coastal areas of
\nUlakkarang and Purus, spilling onto the streets and heading to
\nhigher ground some three kilometers away on Monday morning.<\/p>\n
The residents -- many of them women and children, still in
\ntheir school uniforms -- were participating in a tsunami
\nevacuation drill held by the Padang city administration and the
\nTsunami Watch Community (Kogami) to test the region's tsunami
\nearly warning system for the first time on Monday, precisely a
\nyear after the massive disaster devastated parts of Aceh and
\nNorth Sumatra provinces last year.<\/p>\n
Syahrial, a 62-year-old resident of Ulakkarang, said he was no
\nlonger quite so worried about a tsunami.<\/p>\n
\"If a big earthquake strikes, myself and my family will
\nimmediately flee to higher ground, which we can reach in 30
\nminutes,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Monday's drill started after the Padang mayor ordered the
\nemergency evacuation to start after receiving a mock report from
\nthe Meteorological Agency in Jakarta that a sensor on the ocean
\nfloor had detected a major earthquake.<\/p>\n
Soon, sirens were wailing and people rushed to a predestined
\nevacuation area, followed by ambulances and fire trucks.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Research and Technology Kusmayanto Kadiman,
\nwho attended the drill, said he was satisfied with the results.<\/p>\n
\"The drill worked just fine, but I hope similar exercises can
\nalso be conducted in other areas,\" he said, adding that the drill
\nshould also involve the electricity utility, hospitals, markets
\nand businesspeople.<\/p>\n
If possible, the electricity should be cut off to make the
\ndrill as realistic as possible, he added.<\/p>\n
\"Everyone should be involved in the drill. By involving
\neveryone, we can prevent people from panicking,\" Kusmayanto said.<\/p>\n
Since the tsunami struck, the country has been rattled by
\nhundreds of aftershocks and smaller earthquakes. It is now in the
\ninitial stages of setting up a tsunami early warning system
\ninvolving the installation of beach sirens and setting up of
\ninternational lines of communication. However, it might take two
\nmore years before the system is fully operational.<\/p>\n
West Sumatra Deputy Governor Marlis Rahman said the drill was
\na positive development as the city, which borders on the region
\nhardest hit by last year's tsunami and has 440,000 of its
\n700,000 people living in coastal areas, is among the areas most
\nvulnerable to earthquakes and ensuing tsunamis.<\/p>\n
\"As a result of the drill, people will be less likely to panic
\nso much, thus cutting down on the risk of accidents,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Padang Mayor Fauzi Bahar said the administration would
\ncontinuously strive to improve the system so as to safeguard
\nresidents from the threat of tsunamis. \"I'll also ask all schools
\nto perform tsunami evacuation drills, such as during breaks,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The Padang city administration, he added, would work together
\nwith the state telephone company PT Telkom to install 87 sirens
\non the company's masts.<\/p>",
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