Myanmar is organizing a quaternary committee involving international institutions to carry out program on releasing weather forecast news and weather-related public education, aimed at minimizing the loss in case natural disaster strikes the country, a local weekly journal reported Monday.
The committee is consisted of MDH, World Meteorology and Hydrology Headquarters, MDH of Thailand and Myanmar private enterprises, the Flower News quoting the Meteorology and Hydrology Department (MHD) as saying.
Myanmar has earlier planned to introduce three more new seismographs this year with the help of foreign organizations as part of its bid to reinforce the country's seismological facilities.
In cooperation with the Thailand-based Asian Disaster Preparedness Center and China Earthquake Administration, one seismograph will be set up in western coastal Rakhine state's Sittwe, while the other two will be established in northeastern Shan state's Namhsan and northernmost Kachin state's Myitkyina respectively.
Besides, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is committed to help Myanmar develop an early warning system for tsunami and other natural disasters by setting up two seismograph stations and two sea-level measurement stations on Thamihla Kyun (Diamond Island) in Ayeyawaddy division in the coming years.
Moreover, the Japan International Cooperation Agency is also helping Myanmar establish an early earthquake warning system by setting up seismographic network and record center in the country.
Furthermore, Myanmar and India will cooperate in monitoring tsunami, saying that details of the warning projects for the natural disaster will be discussed between the MHD and India's Ministry of Geology and Science.
In the latest development, Thailand is seeking to establish in Myanmar an early warning network system against cyclone and a delegation, led by Minister of Information, Communication and Technology Mun Patanotai, has recently visited Yangon.
Following the onslaught on Myanmar by a severe cyclone storm inearly last May, the United Nations has also set up an emergency telecommunication center (ETC) in Yangon to help for quick communication access in disaster relief and restoration works.
Meanwhile, Myanmar said it will air weather forecast news from the country's new capital of Nay Pyi Taw starting from the end of this year.
The installation of such facilities is nearing completion, the MHD said.
Besides, the Myanmar Government has also granted spending of 300,000 U.S. dollars to purchase earthquake-monitoring equipment to establish its first central seismological observatory in the new capital to strengthen the country's earthquake warning facilities.
The planned Nay Pyi Taw seismological observatory will be the one of its kind following the Kaba Aye in Yangon, Mandalay in Mandalay division, Sittway in Rakhine state and Dawei in Tanintharyi division respectively set up during the past 24-year period between 1961 and 1985, according to local media.
A deadly cyclone Nargis, which occurred over the Bay of Bengal, hit five divisions and states on last May 2 and 3, killing 84,537 people and leaving 53,836 others missing and 19,359 injured.
Three months after the Nargis tremor, an over-one-hour typhoon swept some villages in Mudon and Mawlamyine in southeastern Mon state on Aug. 8-9, causing some damages.
Meanwhile, the country is also building cyclone shelters in 500villages in the cyclone-affected regions to resist cyclone and earthquake attack in the future.
The project, estimated to be cost about at least 15 million U.S.dollars, will be implemented by the cooperation of the Myanmar Engineers' Society (MES) and the Geological Science Society (GSS).
Accordingly, with the assistance of experts from the Tokyo University of Japan and with the combination of technical know-how applied in most cyclone-hit Bangladesh, Pakistan and India, and that of Myanmar's local regions, a first-ever cyclone-resistant model village is under construction.
Forecasting that another cyclone could develop in Myanmar in October-November's post-monsoon period, private media have called on the country's people to strictly observe the weather forecast warning, take lessons from the severe cyclone Nargis and take preventive measures.
Source:Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article