An Indian scientific report issued recently on the proposed Indian Ocean Warning System, states that North Arabian Sea 70 to 100 km south of Karachi and Balochistan coast is vulnerable to the occurrence of tsunami. According to seismic analysis, the Murray Ridge area can be geologically defined as "Plate Triple Junction".
This was stated in a report prepared by the experts at Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET).
The SSUET experts said in view of the above, there is an urgent need for monitoring micro-seismic activities and frequency in the region for which a tsunami warning system with a network of automatically digital recording seismo meters for quick collection of accurate data and interpretation of results will be essential.
Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology is organising a technical seminar to seek the views, co-operation and assistance of concerned governments and private agencies/organisations in developing an action plan for installation, of "Disaster Warning System."
It is meant to forewarn and create awareness among people living in Pakistan's coastal areas and neighbouring islands.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who was chief guest at the 8th convention of the university in March this year, had briefly reviewed a report prepared by SSUET on this issue and had assured full government support in creating the infrastructure which will help prevent the losses caused by tsunami disaster.
The Unesco meeting held in Mauritius in April 2005 had offered to provide technical know-how and expertise to Indian-Ocean countries developing warning system in their vulnerable coastal regions.
Some of the tsunami affected countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are already developing their technical capabilities/ capacities to detect, monitor, analyse and provide warning about tsunami.
Pakistan also plans to develop and install a tsunami warning system at Karachi which, besides Karachi region, will also cater to the needs of Sindh-Mekran coast, Western Indian Coast up to Rann of Kutch, eastern coastal region of Iran and coastal region of Qatar/Oman.
According to experts at Sir Syed University, the coastal region of Sindh and Balochistan has in the past experienced many natural disasters like storms, floods, cyclones, earthquakes, epidemics, oil spills etc, which caused loss of life and property.
However, experts pointed out that devastating earthquakes occurring in sea/coastal water generate tsunami, which cause havoc and completely destroy the coastal regions.
According to them the tsunami of 1947 at Mekran coast and 1819 in Runn of Kutch area are examples of wide devastation. Due to thinly populated areas, the loss of lives in these tsunami disasters was in thousands and not in millions.
The Institute of Human Settlements and Environment at SSUET has been actively involved in drawing up disaster preparedness plans for taking remedial measures and providing relief as a public service to the inhabitants of coastal regions of the country in general and citizens of Karachi in particular, should a disaster hit the region.
In the wake of Sumatra holocaust of December 2004, which claimed more than 300,000 lives, SSUET carried out detailed seismic studies of coastal region of the country and adjoining North Arabian Sea. The studies showed that Murray Ridge area located between 100-200 Km, south-west of Karachi and extending up to Sonmiani in North Arabian Sea during the last 70 years experienced 25 to 30 earthquakes, mostly of moderate intensity.
The study says it is an active seismic region and can be a real threat to Karachi coastal region from tsunami, should a major earthquake occur in the region.
The coastal region around Karachi and adjoining islands are thickly populated with a settlement of 4 to 5 million people.
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