Padang, West Sumatra (ANTARA News) - West Sumatra`s Disaster Operations Control Center (Pusdalops-PB) is in need of around 600 tsunami early warning sirens, its manager Ade Edward said here on Monday.

He said all earthquake and tsunami prone districts and cities in West Sumatra at present only have six sirens and that they need around 600 more.

"All earthquake and tsunami prone districts and cities in West Sumatra at present have only six sirens but they are far from enough to give early disaster information to the local community," Ade said.

According to him, the six sirens connected to tsunami early warning systems should be increased because the coastal areas in West Sumatra is wide enough.

Ade explained that the six sirens were installed three years ago at a cost of Rp1.5 billion, but there was no increase in the past three years.

But he added that siren at present is much cheaper or around Rp50,000 per unit, and so the addition of around 600 more would not a serious problem.

For the procurement of the additional siren, Ade said the Pusdalops-PB would propose a budget of Rp2.5 billion to West Sumatra 2012 regional budget (APBD).

"The Rp2.5 billion of funds will be used not only for the procurement of 600 sirens but also for additional CCTV cameras and other supporting equipment," Ade said.

Meanwhile Director of Padang Traffic Police Ibn Isticha said recently that West Sumatra regional police would install CCTV cameras disaster prone areas to monitor the regional traffic management center (RTMC).

"We will be installing CCTV cameras soon in Sumatra," Ibn Isticha said.

According to him, disaster-prone areas to be fitted with CCTV cameras were in the district of West Sumatera and the Mentawai Islands, Malibo Anai region, and Padang Pariaman District.

"The hilly region of Malibo Anai is prone to landslides, while Mentawai Islands are prone to earthquakes," he said.
(Uu.O001/ H-NG/F001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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