Calm Down, That Tsunami Warning For Northern Malaysia You Saw Is Not Real
A tsunami warning letter for Langkawi, Penang and Perlis issued by the Malaysian Meteorological Department has created anxiety in some Malaysians, but there is nothing to be worried about.
By Mei Mei Chu — 10 Sep 2014, 12:56 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
Yesterday, 9 September 2014, a tsunami warning for Langkawi Island, Penang Island And Perlis was widely shared via Whatsapp
Issued by the Malaysian Meteorological Department, the circular advised Malaysians in the area to stay away from the beach at the stipulated date and time
The information spread on social networks is believed to have stemmed from the circulation of a letter from the Meteorological Department informing of the exercise, which also included information of an expected tsunami in Langkawi, Penang and Perlis today with waves as high as 0.4m.
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The letter included information that a 9.1 magnitude earthquake had hit this morning off the coast of Southern Jawa.
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If the letter got you worried about a looming tsunami hitting Malaysian shores, you can relax. The tsunami warning is false.
Rumours of tsunamis and earthquakes in Penang had the Meteorological Department staff in a quandary after a routine training exercise was misrepresented on social media and went viral.
thestar.com.myThe Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) is participating in a two-day mock tsunami drill called the Indian Ocean Wave 2014 (IOWave14)
It was part of a two-day drill called the Indian Ocean Exercise Wave 2014 (IOWave14) that Malaysia took part in with 20 other countries.
thestar.com.myThe Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) in a statement here today said the department together with the National Security Council (MKN), Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) were participating in the drill.
Indonesia and 20 other countries around the Indian Ocean are taking part in a two-day tsunami early-warning exercise. The drill kicked off at 8am Singapore time on Tuesday (Sep 9).
The IOWave14 exercise is meant to test the country's readiness and response in the event of a real disaster
The exercise is meant to test the countries' readiness and response times to a potentially devastating event. Two earthquakes will be simulated over successive days. The first one was re-enacted in Southern Java on Tuesday.
The early warning centre did not exist 10 years ago. There was no satellite and no sophisticated computers - just good, old radio signals. And it took disaster management agencies more than an hour to realise that a tsunami had struck the coast of Aceh with devastating effects.
Today, it takes them less than two minutes to detect a potential tsunami and send out a warning to more than 20 countries in the Indian Ocean.
The tsunami drill involves the participation of more than 20 other countries and includes the simulation of tsunamis from strong earthquakes off Indonesia and Pakistan
The drill, which also involves the participation of more that 20 other Indian Ocean rim countries, includes the simulation of tsunamis from strong earthquakes off southern Java (today) and the Makran Trench (off the Pakistani coast) tomorrow.
The drill has two phases – firstly, tsunami information will be issued from the simulation to Regional Tsunami Service Providers and then to Tsunami Early Warning Centres.
thestar.com.myThe countries concerned will then analyse the information in an exercise to test communications and coordination between agencies, as well as evaluate the readiness level in disaster organisations.
thestar.com.myThe tsunami early-warning exercise is carried out once every two to three years
The tsunami early-warning exercise is carried out once every two to three years. It involves countries as far as South Africa and Yemen - where tsunami waves could potentially reach. Each country can decide how detailed they want their exercises to be. Some have even involved the evacuation of people.
The public is urged to ignore earthquake and tsunami warnings on social media during the tsunami drill on 9 and 10 September
The public is urged to ignore earthquake and tsunami warnings on social media during the tsunami drill on 9 and 10 September
Image via imgur.comThe public is urged to ignore earthquake and tsunami warnings spread on social media as they are likely to be false in view of the ongoing mock tsunami drill called Indian Ocean Wave 2014 (IOWave14) today and tomorrow.
However, the heading on the letter did note that it was a “Latih Amal (drill) EX-IOWAVE14″. “We hope the public will ignore the false information being spread regarding a tsunami which has been going around on social media,” the latest statement on the Facebook page read.
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