“The first of a planned network of tsunami early warning buoys is being laid in the Indian Ocean. The buoy is being placed between Thailand and Sri Lanka, two of the countries worst-hit by the 2004 tsunami which killed more than 200,000 people.
The buoy, provided by the US, is able to detect sudden increases in pressure deep under the sea and give coastal communities early warning of a tsunami.
The US already operates a similar system in the Pacific Ocean.
The cost of the US-designed device is being shared by the US and Thailand.”
see the full article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6197766.stm
At Arugam Bay, the first and still only Hi Tec Early Warning Centre in Sri Lanka exists to this very day.
The system is privately funded by the SVH and came into full operation on 29th December, 2004 (!). This reliable system is still powered by a direct Inmarsat link to the Pacific Early Warning Systems based at Hawaii and Alaska.
More recently these old existing contracts have been suplimented by Japan and most received Data has been replaced by a permanent connection to the brand new, and regionally much more relevant Thai Monitoring HQ at Silom, Bangkok.
Indeed, to this day Thai expat staff of the Siam View maintains very close and personal contacts with their fellow Nationals based in Bangkok ensuring that a timely warning is given in the event of any ocean surges in the future.
Three sirens Buy betnovate ointment online located on a water tower are activated to warn the population.
In addition, SMS messages are sent at once to multiple recipients who have registered with the AbaY Centre. These include Governmental departments, military and civil authorities as well as individuals who long placed their trust in this unique local self-help project.
Arugam Forum
Arugam Photo Galleries on Picasa
Old Website
Press Coverage
Surf Forecast for Arugam Bay
Good to be able to rely on your own Satellite -Inmaresat- link!
taken from BBC web news today:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6211451.stm
Asia communications hit by quake
Rescue workers in Pingtung county in Taiwan
The quake was felt across Taiwan
Telecommunications across Asia have been severely disrupted because of damage to undersea cables caused by Tuesday’s earthquake near Taiwan.
Banks and businesses in Taiwan, South Korea, China and Japan reported telephone and internet problems.
The earthquake, a magnitude 7.1 according to the US Geological Survey, struck off Taiwan’s southern coast
Two people were killed and at least 42 injured in the temblor, which shook buildings across the island.
The earthquake took place at 2026 (1226 GMT) south-west of Hengchun. It was followed by a number of aftershocks.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency had warned of a possible localised tsunami heading towards the Philippines, but nothing was later reported.
‘Seriously affected’
Taiwan’s largest telephone company, Chunghwa Telecom Co, said damage to an undersea cable had disrupted 98% of Taiwan’s communications with Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong.
Repairs could take three weeks, Vice-General Manager Lin Jen-hung said, but quality would improve daily.
Map
Telecommunications companies in Hong Kong, Japan and China also reported problems.
China’s biggest telecoms provider, China Telecommunications Group, said that communications cables to the US and to Europe had been damaged.
“Internet connections have been seriously affected, and phone links and dedicated business lines have also been affected to some degree,” it said.
In South Korea, broadband provider KT Corp said six submarine cables had been affected, interrupting services to customers including banks.
Some foreign exchange trading was reportedly affected.
“Trading of the Korean won has mostly halted due to the communication problem,” a dealer at one South Korean domestic bank told Reuters news agency.
Several companies have warned of slow internet access over the next few days.
In Taiwan, rescue workers were searching through rubble for people injured in the earthquake.
Two members of a family died in Hengchun when their house collapsed, Taiwanese officials said
The earthquake came on the second anniversary of the Asian tsunami, which claimed almost 250,000 lives.
What is the annual operating cost of your early warning system?
How do you warn the coastal population in the event?
Who actually paid for all the set up and equipment in the first place?