Tsunami warning systems in Penang upgraded to allow faster alerts
GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has upgraded four Malaysian Tsunami Early Warning System (SAATNM) installations at sites near the sea in Penang.
Penang MetMalaysia Office senior assistant director Fadila Jasmin Fakaruddin said the upgraded SAATNM is equipped with better features including 360° speakers compared to only three speakers previously.
She said the four locations are at the National Training Centre at Pasir Panjang Beach in Balik Pulau, the Teluk Bahang Fisheries Development Authority Jetty, Masjid Jamek Ar-Rahman in Batu Feringghi, and the Tanjung Bungah Floating Mosque.
"The old SAATNMs under phase one have been in use since 2006. The upgraded ones have an improved speaker system and a higher mast at 16m compared to the previous 10m, among others.
ALSO READ: MetMalaysia to test tsunami warning system in Batu Ferringhi tomorrow (April 23)
"Today (Wednesday, April 23) we tested the new tsunami siren system for the site acceptance test (SAT) at the Masjid Jamek Ar-Rahman location and everything went smoothly," she told the media after the siren test.
Fadila Jasmin said the SAATNM siren in Teluk Bahang was tested on Monday (April 21) while the Balik Pulau installation was tested on Tuesday (April 22).
The testing will continue at the Tanjung Bungah Floating Mosque SAATNM on Thursday (April 24).
"We hope that by upgrading the SAATNM, we can provide faster warnings to people in the area if there is any tsunami threat," Fadilla Jasmin said.
A manager at a Batu Ferringhi hotel near the site of today's test expressed confidence that the upgraded system will provide faster tsunami warnings to guests.
"We can alert (guests) and take action (immediately) and the new loudspeaker is also very clear ... (it) can be heard all the way to the hotel. (We have heard the siren) before, but I think this is clearer," he said.
SAATNM can also channel earthquake information to the public within eight minutes after detection by its sensors. – Bernama
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