Investing in Early Warning System is important to save lives - Usamate

Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Jone Usamate says it is important to invest in the Early Warning System, resilient infrastructure and education of our citizens to save lives and to know what to do when there is a tsunami alert.

While launching the World Tsunami Awareness Day 2020 in Labasa today, Usamate says this year’s Tsunami Day observance promotes target (e) of the “Sendai Seven Campaign” which focuses on promoting national and local risk reduction plans.

Usamate says according to the UN Disaster Risk Reduction, it is estimated that 50% of the world’s population will live in coastal areas exposed to flooding, storms and tsunamis in 2030.

He says on the 5th of every month, tsunami sirens testing and random tsunami drills are carried out in Suva so that people are familiar with the sound of the siren and also respond to the actual event.

Usamate says the government through the Department of Mineral Resources conducts awareness meetings in all coastal communities as part of Fiji’s Early Warning System to reduce disruption to public services and save lives.

A Tsunami Drill was also conducted by the University of the South Pacific Labasa Centre to mark the opening of the event.