RI Develops World's Best Anti-Tsunami Warning System: UNESCO

Jakarta, Nov 24 (Antara) - Indonesia has developed the best anti-tsunami warning system in the world, Director of Science from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for Asia Region Hubert J Gijzen said here on Monday. "Ever since a tsunami hit Indonesia`s Aceh province in 2004, the country has been developing the anti-tsunami warning system that has turned out to be the best in the world," Hubert stated during the opening ceremony of an international conference to commemorate the 10th year of the tsunami that hit Aceh province. The opening ceremony was held at the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency`s office in Jakarta. According to Gijzen, an early warning system for tsunami can reduce the number of casualties. Indonesia learned its lesson when a tsunami hit Aceh province in December 2004 and claimed the lives of 230,000 people and seriously damaged the coastal areas in the province. "The impact of the 2004 tsunami was huge. What we need to understand here is that although we cannot stop a tsunami from happening, we can warn the people well in advance before a tsunami strikes," noted Gijzen. The UNESCO Director also called for international collaboration in developing an early warning system for possible tsunamis.