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Setting up a national tsunami warning centre will cost millions of dollars, says the Mineral Resources Department’s senior seismologist Lasarusa Vuetibau.
Vuetibau said seismograph stations, satellite systems and the right people would be needed to set up a proper warning centre.
The Nadi Meterological Centre relies on the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii for warnings.
Vuetibau said the Mineral Resources Department received today’s warning in three minutes unlike the delay during last week’s tsunami which American Samoa and Samoa.
Today’s warning was cancelled after only 4 centimetre waves were recorded on the southern islands off Vanuatu following three earthquakes off the islands.
He said the Fiji government is working hard to prepare for disasters and officials from MRD, government and other agencies have had a series of meetings to discuss setting up warning sirens.
“Let’s say we are working on this,” Vuetibau added.
There had been discussions with Vodafone to set up a nation wide alert system but these had come to a stop, he said.
“I cannot reveal further on the issue.”
However, Vuetibau said Digicel has also shown interest in this project.
