12 Jun 2017

Samoas work on tsunami warning agreement

12:41 pm on 12 June 2017

The two Samoas are trying to work out an agreement to address their divergence in tsunami warning systems.

American Samoa gets its information from the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, while neighbouring Samoa has its own network of seismic centres to make its own warnings.

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Photo: 123.rf

But Samoa's radio broadcasts are heard widely in the territory, which means Samoa's warnings will be heard in American Samoa, where authorities may not deem a warning necessary.

The head of Samoa's Meteorological Service, Mulipola Ausetalia Titimaea recently led a delegation to American Samoa to try and work out a solution.

"There is no difficulty in the operations when it comes to distance earthquakes," Miulipola said.

"But it's just a matter of small minor tremors where when we feel it in Samoa, when we issue our information bulletin or warning when it reaches that threshold level but American Samoa doesn't agree because they are all mandated to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre."