Experts yesterday played down the possibility of a devastating tsunami along the Bangladesh coast as the depth of water down the country’s shore is fairly low to trigger the giant waves.
They also criticised the government for last week’s ‘false’ tsunami warning at a roundtable on ‘Tsunami risk in Bangladesh’s coastal areas and what can be done’, organised by Paribesh Bachao Andolon.
“Depth of water in 200 kilometres from our shore is 20 to 200 metres, but at least two-kilometre in water depth is needed to create a tsunami. A devastating tsunami like the one in December 2004 is not possible in Bangladesh due to its better geographical location,” said Prof Aftab Alam Khan of geology department at Dhaka University.
Maksud Kamal, an expert on earthquake and tsunami preparedness, agreed, saying shallow waters in the Bay of Bengal cancels any possibility of a devastating tsunami in Bangladesh.
The experts said any transoceanic tsunami originating in the Java-Sumatra region or elsewhere would not harm Bangladesh as the giant waves would weaken before they reach the country’s shoreline.
“Before reaching the country’s coast, the velocity of the tsunami’s water column would slow down by hitting the slope as far as 100 kilometres from the shore”, said Maksud Kamal.
“When it reaches the coast, the waves’ velocity would be so weak that it would hardly do any harm across our coastal belt”, he added.
Dr Aftab, also vice president of Bangladesh Earthquake Society, said conditions for a tsunami are an undersea earthquake measuring over 7.0 on the Richter scale, focal depth (epicentre) 10-15 kilometres in depth, vertical waves and a minimum two-kilometre deep water.
The speakers blasted the authorities for raising belated tsunami warning on September 12 and said it panicked thousands of people and incurred the nation financial losses.
“Tsunami warning on September 12 was wrong. As the earthquake hit Indonesia at 5:30pm, tsunami waves should have reached Bangladesh coastal areas by three hours. But the warning said tsunami might hit at midnight, which was impossible”, said Mohammad Inamul Haque, former director general of Bangladesh Haor & Wetland Development Board (BHWDB).
“Warning on September 12 should have been withdrawn after 9:00pm. But the government did not do so even though the Indonesian government lifted the warning (by that time),” he said.
Khurshid Alam, a specialist in disaster management, said the government should immediately explain why tsunami warning on September 12 came late.
The experts urged the caretaker government to set up modern earthquake observation centres at different places in the country so proper information and warning about natural disasters like tsunami, floods, earthquakes and cyclones can be provided on time.
Abu Naser Khan, co-ordinator of Paribesh Bachao Andolon, said study on tsunami should be incorporated into university curriculum, especially in disaster management department.
Categories: Bangla, Bangladesh, Bangladesh Economy, Bangladesh News, Daily Bangladesh News, Economy, News
