NODS Wary of Tsunami Threat

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Tuesday, 02 March 2010 06:55

By Andy Liburd

Director of the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) Philmore Mullin is suggesting it is time to seriously re-think the type of developments going up around Antigua’s coastline.

Following the devastating 8.8 earthquake that struck Chile on the weekend, leading oceanographers issued tsunami warnings for 53 nations and territories across the Pacific Ocean, including Hawaii and Japan.

Because of the Caribbean's position in relation to Chile, Antigua & Barbuda did not fall under the threat.

But speaking to Caribarena.com on Sunday evening, the NODS director said he watched the events unfold with particular interest, as countries in the region can no longer take such natural occurrences for granted.

Regional disaster co-ordinators have been trying to bring new focus to earthquakes, even as the threat of hurricanes remains real for island territories in the sub-region.

Mullin said as devastating as hurricanes have been for the Caribbean, a terrible earthquake or tsunami would make an Atlantic storm look like a toddler.

It is in connection with this that Mullin said policy makers need to move away from the development model introduced by the colonial masters where most buildings and facilities, like the airport, were constructed along the coastline. He pointed to the Ministry of Health and the post office as other examples where facilities that hold important records sit near the coast.

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