Tsunami, earthquake new school subjects

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: East Nusa Tenggara schools will include tsunami and earthquakes as school subjects as part of government efforts to raise the awareness of people on the danger of these natural events.

The students will be taught, among other things, the signs of an imminent tsunami or earthquake, said East Nusa Tenggara Governor Piet A. Tallo on Tuesday.

According to the governor, the inclusion of both subjects in the school curriculum was aimed at preventing loss of life when earthquakes and tsunamis hit. East Nusa Tenggara is an area prone to natural disaster. A monster earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale last year in Alor regency here killed 34 and injured thousands of others. -- JP