ASEAN seismologists and Tsunami warning operators met at the 3rd Meeting of Technical Task Force on the Establishment of Monitoring Networks of Tsunami Early Warning Systems in ASEAN, on 18-19 June 2007, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The Meeting was hosted by the Meteorological and Geophysical Agency (MGA) of Indonesia. Officials representing WMO and UNESCO/Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO/IOC) were also in attendance.

The participants shared the progress on the various activities to establish the National Tsunami Early Warning Systems and also National Seismic Network. Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand reported that their respective National Tsunami Early Warning Systems will be completed in 2007, 2008 and 2008, respectively. New seismic sensors, buoys and tide gauges, coastal camera network have been installed in various strategic places o improve the seismic and Tsunami monitoring network. Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand also reported that the building of siren towers is continuing.

The Meeting was able to identify 10 new seismic stations located in various countries as the key stations in the region for regional seismic monitoring and data exchange in addition to the 21 seismic stations earlier identified by the 2nd Meeting of the Task Force. In addition, 26 key tidal gauge stations and 21 Buoy stations have also been identified for the purpose of data exchange.

The ASEAN Earthquake Information Centre (AEIC) hosted by the MGA of Indonesia continued to play its role to strengthen the capability of ASEAN in dealing with earthquake and Tsunami by undertaking, among others, the following activities and initiatives:
• Continued dissemination of earthquake information occurring within outside the region (with a magnitude of 5.0 or greater (Richter Scale) through various communications means such as email, SMS and fax.
• Conduct of various training activities for seismologists and Tsunami warning operators. In March 2007, the AEIC hosted the RANET Training Course aiming to communities in rural and remote areas in ASEAN to send and receive seismic, climatic and environmental data using WordSpace Satellite broadcast. More training activities are being planned to be implemented in 2007-2008.
• Issuance of Tsunami alert/warning messages to the National Seismic Centers in each of the ASEAN countries.

Consultations are currently on going between Malaysia and Indonesia and Malaysia and the Philippines on the deployment of Malaysia’s buoys in the Indonesia’s and the Philippines’ waters. The deployment of these buoys would be expected to further improve the monitoring of earthquake and Tsunami activities by the concerned countries. The consultations appear to be rather tedious as they involve different Ministries including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (DT)

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