Experts yesterday urged the government to set up public awareness campaigns on the dangers of a Tsunami earthquake to protect communities living along the coast of Tanzania.
They warned that the country was not immune to another event of Tsunami and its related disasters, such as the one that happened more than a decade ago in Indonesia.
The United Nations Education Scientific Conference (UNESCO) has organized a workshop to impart knowledge on local meteorologists and government leaders as part of a drive to enhance preparedness against the menace.
The Unesco Represeantive, Mr Ardito Kodijat, said the workshop was part of the commemoration of the Indian Ocean Tsumani which happened 11 years ago.
According to the Acting Head of Tanzania Meteorological Agency(TMA) Dr Ladislaus Chang’a, a section of Tanzanians were affected by the Tsunami.
The 2004 Tsunami event generated ocean waves of up to 10.5 meters in height which struck the Northern Sumatra, Indonesia , causing widespread destruction and loss of life in many countries including East Africa.
“Tsunami waves caused 13 fatalities along the coastal belt whereby three fishermen and ten people swimming on the beach were killed. In Dar es Salaam, the waves seriously damaged 26 boats and five other boats were lost,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Works, Transport and Communications, Mr Leonard Chamuriho, noted that the government would collaborate with UNESCO in trying to protect the coastal communities by saving lives and property when the disaster strikes.
2016 allAfrica.com