Tsunami Early Warning System SRI LANKA Lalith Chandrapala Sarath Weerawarnakula

Early Warning System in Sri Lanka No Early Warning System for Tsunami prior to 26-12 Different Government Institutions mandated to monitor and issue Early Warnings in the case of different hazards (e.g. Meteorology for weather related, NARA for Oceanic, GSMB for seismological, NBRO for landslides etc.) After 26-12, Department of Meteorology was designated as the Tsunami Early Warning Centre for Sri Lanka.

Early Warning System in Sri Lanka A Technical Committee representing all stakeholders appointed to coordinate the activities of the EW Centre. Connected with Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre and Japan Meteorological Agency thro’ telephone/fax Technical Committee will become the ‘TAC on Early Warning of DMC’ once an EWC is established at the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).

Early Warning System in Sri Lanka Seismic Information is received from California Integrated Seismic Network (supplied from IOC) Pallekele GSMB Seismic Station (from the display at GSMB HQ) Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre - Advisories Japan Meteorological Administration - Advisories

Early Warning System in Sri Lanka Usually the EWC receives information about seismic events in the following order Source of information Minutes after the event Location Info. Magnitude Info Seismic Monitoring Centre @ GSMB 5-10 minutes No California Integrated Seismic Network (CISN) 10 minutes Yes (Preliminary) Yes (Preliminary) Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC)* 15-20 minutes Yes Japan Meteorological Administration (JMA)* Over 30 minutes * through Advisories

Early Warning System in Sri Lanka Three Tide Gauges at Colombo Kirinda and Trincomalee (Maintained by NARA) Information on sea level changes available to EWC only through the Internet. Hawaii Sea Level Centre Web site NARA website

Early Warning System in Sri Lanka Warnings/Advisories on Tsunami are issued based on seismic data. However, Sea Level Information from Indonesian gauges, particularly the gauge at Sibolga, is used for guidance in addition to the guidance provided by PTWC and JMA. Advisory is issued within 30 minutes of the Earthquake

How Warnings are Issued …… Magnitude of oceanic EQ 6.5 to 6.9 EWC keeps close watch on Tide gauge data available in the internet (Hawaii SLC). No official bulletins are issued 7.0 to 7.4 Earthquake Information Bulletin is issued informing about the occurrence of the Earthquake. 7.5 to 7.7 Earthquake Information Bulletin is issued indicating the location, magnitude of the Earthquake, and requesting the public to be ready for evacuation at short notice. Over 7.8 Tsunami Advisory Bulletin is issued requesting public in vulnerable regions to evacuate immediately

through Once a Bulletin is issued …… Dissemination to relevant authorities/institutions and communities Media (Radio and Television) [most effective and efficient!] 2. through Regional Police Stations 3. Military Communication Systems through

If people receive the warning Issue of Advisory in 30 mnts. 15 minutes Early Warning Centre Seismic Info GSMB Info CISN PTWC JMA Earthquake If people receive the warning in 45 minutes, then they have over one hour to respond Sea Level Info Issue of Advisory in 30 mnts. Media – direct to communities Police (Police HQ to Regional Police Stations and then to communities) Military communication system to communities

Educating Public is very important ! Over 93.5 % of the vulnerable coastal population in Sri Lanka have not even heard about ‘tsunami’ prior to last episode. (ADPC, 2005) However, the present situation is different! A large number of seminars/workshops/meetings have been conducted in vulnerable areas

Educating Public is very important ! Over 93.5 % of the vulnerable coastal population in Sri Lanka have not even heard about ‘tsunami’ prior to last episode. (ADPC, 2005) However, the present situation is different! A good example On 28th March 2005 Magnitude 8.7 Within 55 minutes of the issuance of the Advisory Bulletin, all people evacuated.

one hundred percent ideal Evacuation on 28th March 2005 was not one hundred percent ideal BUT evacuation was completed within 55 minutes Kalmunai, Eastern Sri Lanka on 28th March 2005

Time to issue advisory - 45 mints Timeline – 28th March 2006 28/2210 hrs SLST Earthquake in Indonesia 28/2220 hrs SLST PALK station pickup unusual wave pattern 28/2230 hrs SLST PTWC Bulletin Number 1 received at EWC 28/2255 hrs SLST Tsunami Advisory issued – Evacuation begins 28/2350 hrs SLST Evacuation completed, Tide Watchers deployed by SLN 29/0300 hrs SLST All Clear issued by EWC Time to issue advisory - 45 mints Time between issue of advisory and evacuation completion - 1 hr 40 mnts Time between start and end of evacuation – 55 mnts

Posters and Leaflets have been distributed …….

Thank You