Germany joins Race to Build Asian Tsunami Warning
System
Germany on Tuesday proposed setting up its own tsunami
warning system in Sri Lanka and Indonesia, joining the race
with Japan and the United States to put their technology to
use after the Asian wave tragedy.
Research Minister Edelgard Bulmahn made the proposal on the
first day of a United Nations conference on disaster
prevention in the western Japanese city of Kobe which aims
to get the warning system off the ground.
Germany plans to set out buoys equipped with the satellite
Global Positioning System and set instruments at the bottom
of the Indian Ocean in September so it can launch its system
if chosen, the minister said.
The initial target countries are Indonesia and Sri Lanka,
she said, adding that India, which refused outside help
after the disaster, has already turned down Berlin's offer.
Germany will promote its early warning system at
international conferences and
meetings with officials from devastated countries, she said.
