Tawau’s tsunami warning tower

Tawau’s tsunami warning tower

A tsunami-warning tower installed at the premises of the Al-Kauthar Mosque, here, is functioning well, Malaysian Meteorological Department assistant director Sandra Richard said.

A tsunami-warning tower installed at the premises of the Al-Kauthar Mosque, here, is functioning well, Malaysian Meteorological Department assistant director Sandra Richard said.

photo by linder6580

“We are satisfied with the feedback received from residents during the exercise today, especially villagers in Kampung Titingan,” she told reporters after testing the equipment today.

She said the equipment went through scheduled monthly inspections to ensure it is in good condition and functioning well to warn on tsunami emergencies.

The tower was built in 2005 following the 2004 Asian tsunami triggered by a massive earthquake off Aceh, Sumatra, in Indonesia.

A siren from the tower would give residents an early warning should there be an impending tsunami threat.

Sandra said they had also installed a closed-circuit television camera at the mosque to facilitate monitoring of the situation in the area.

Besides Tawau, the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry has also set up tsunami warning towers in Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Sandakan and Kudat.

— Bernama