Tsunami warning system to be tested in Caribbean

By Michelle Nurse On Mar 14, 2016

A tsunami early warning exercise will take place in the countries of the Caribbean Sea on 17 March. The purpose of the test is to identify possible weaknesses in the Tsunami and other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions, which was established in 2005 under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO).

The exercise will test a double scenario including a major earthquake off the coast of Venezuela and another off the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. It will feature fictitious messages sent by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) to the countries taking part in the exercise, including Dominca.

Countries can choose to extend the test at the local level by disseminating the alert via sirens or loudspeakers.