Suva and Nasinu expected to have 5 new Early Warning sirens for disasters by 2018

Suva and Nasinu are expected to have 5 new Early Warning sirens for disasters by 2018.

The proposed areas that are expected to get the warning sirens are Vatuwaqa Fintel area to cover the Vatuwaqa and Laucala Beach area, Ganilau House or Civic Towers to cover the middle of the Capital City, Police Mobile Unit at 8 miles to cover the low lying areas of Nepani, Laqere and Nadawa and Pacific Theological College to cover the Nasese area.

It has also been highlighted that Ports Authority and other employers around the Walu Bay area already have sirens which can also be activated.

The installation of the new early warning sirens will be made possible through a new agreement signed between the Pacific Community, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH or (GIZ) at the Holiday earlier today.

GIZ has contributed $461,148 to the EU funded ACP‑EU Building Safety and Resilience in the Pacific Project implemented by the Pacific Community to expand its partnership with the EU and SPC in climate change action and disaster risk management in Fiji and the Pacific.

Suva has two sirens at the moment, which are located at the University of the South Pacific Marine Campus and in Lami.

Head of GIZ Pacific Dr Wulf Killmann said the extensive damage and loss of lives by Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Winston in February calls for the need for more early warning systems in Fiji.

He says these systems will help save lives and reduce the economic impacts of disasters.

Deputy Director General of the Pacific Community Dr Audrey Aumua says the Pacific Community is happy to work together in this joint partnership to respond to Fiji’s request for additional tsunami early warning sirens to compliment the two systems already installed.

DISMAC had earlier said that they would also look at early warning systems in other parts of Fiji after installing the sirens in Suva.