Tsunami Ready equips people

Dr. T. Srinivasa Kumar is a seasoned expert with over 25 years of experience in ocean observation, information systems, and advisory services, including the development of tsunami and storm surge early warning systems. He has held senior techno-managerial roles at premier institutions such as the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO).

- Dr. T. Srinivasa Kumar

As the Head of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS) Secretariat based in Perth, Australia, Dr. Kumar has led impactful international initiatives. He has successfully managed large-scale scientific projects involving collaboration with national and international institutions, scientists, and stakeholders. In an exclusive interview with Rahul Gahlawat of The Statesman, Dr Kumar talked about the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System.

Q: What was UNESCO's role in setting up the tsunami warning system after the 2004 tsunami?

A: When the devastating tsunami struck on 26 December 2004, there was no tsunami warning system in the Indian Ocean region. This tragic event claimed around 230,000 lives, displaced many more, and caused billions of dollars in economic losses. This prompted the United Nations to mandate UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) in 2005 to establish a system to detect and warn about tsunamis and prepare communities in the region. This system is known as the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS) and functions under the coordination of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group (ICG).

Currently, 27 member states and territories collaborate through this system. Over the past 20 years, efforts under UNESCO's IOC have focused on establishing technical components, setting standards, deploying sensors, and building regional and national tsunami warning frameworks. The system now includes detection and warning mechanisms, data sharing, and a dissemination network to generate and communicate warnings effectively.