MAKASSAR, Indonesia — An early warning system that might have prevented some deaths in the tsunami that hit an Indonesian island on Friday has been stalled in the testing phase for years. The backbone of Indonesia’s tsunami warning system today is a network of 134 tidal gauge stations augmented by land-based seismographs, sirens in about 55 locations and a system to disseminate warnings by text message. It’s unclear exactly what time tsunami waves rushed into the narrow bay that Palu is built around. Indonesian officials who’ve been supportive of the new early warning system did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Since the 2004 tsunami, the mantra among disaster officials in Indonesia has been that the earthquake is the tsunami warning and signal for immediate evacuation.

Source: National Post September 30, 2018 10:00 UTC