Sirens in Vanuatu to warn in case of tsunami Photo: RNZI Len Garae
Tsunami warning sirens around the Vanuatu capital of Port Vila will be tested for the first time this week.
The manager of the geo-hazard division in the department of Meteorology, Esline Bule told the Vanuatu Daily Post that at 4pm local time on Thursday the tsunami sirens will be sounded.
Efate Island where Port Vila is situated has ten tsunami sirens set up in tsunami prone coastal areas.
Mrs Bule said the test marks the completion of a project the Geo-hazard department started talking about in 2013 to improve awareness about tsunami.
"The new warning system was developed with significant community involvement in drawing up evacuation maps and designing signs and notice boards," she said.
The division encourages the public to familiarise themselves with the sound of the sirens on Thursday because the next time they sound will be in the event of a real tsunami.
The Geo-hazard division is planning to have the same system put in place in Luganville on Santo.