Twelfth Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS-XII)

The twelfth session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS-XII) was hosted by the Islamic Republic of Iran through the Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science (INIOAS) at the Kish Island Convention Centre. The ICG/IOTWMS-XII meeting was held during 9–12 March 2019 under the Chairmanship of Dr Andi Eka Sakya. The session was attended by 21 delegates from 8 Member States in the Indian Ocean region (mainly Australia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Thailand), 1 United Nations agency (APDIM), about 30 observers from 8 countries (Germany, India, Iran, Oman, Portugal, Russian Federation, Switzerland, Thailand) and 3 Secretariat staff. One additional UN agency (UNESCAP) participated through Skype.
Figure: Participants at the Twelfth Session of the ICG/IOTWMS, Kish, Iran, 9-12 March 2019.

The ICG decided to: (i) adopt the Medium Term Strategy 2019-2024 and the Status Report, (ii) continue Working Group 1 on Tsunami Risk, Community Awareness and Preparedness; Working Group 2 on Tsunami Detection, Warning and Dissemination; and the Sub-Regional Working Group for the North West Indian Ocean; and (iii) set up three new inter-sessional Task Teams on “Tsunami Preparedness for a near-field Tsunami Hazard”, “Scientific Tsunami Hazard Assessment of the Makran Subduction Zone” and Exercise Indian Ocean Wave 2020. The ICG recognised that the recent Palu and Sunda Strait tsunamis that were generated by near-field, atypical sources are very complex from an early warning perspective, thus emphasising the urgent need to update hazard assessments, strengthen warning capabilities and enhance community preparedness. Noting the successful conduct of IOWave 18 by Member States and piloting of Indian Ocean Tsunami Ready (IOTR) programme by India and Oman, the ICG encouraged all Member States to consider piloting IOTR in vulnerable communities with UNESCO-IOC recognition. The ICG further decided to conduct a Palu and Sunda Strait Lessons learnt workshop in 2019 and an IOWave exercise in 2020. Capacity development plans for the next inter-sessional period include regional trainings on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and national-level trainings on Tsunami Evacuation Maps, Plans and Procedures (TEMPP) as part of the IOTIC-BMKG work plan.

The ICG elected officers for the next intersessional period: Chair – Prof. Dr. Dwikorita Karnawati (Indonesia); Vice Chairs – Dr. Behrouz Abtahi (Iran) and Mr. Pattabhi Rama Rao (India).

The ICG/IOTWMS decided to hold its thirteenth session in early 2021 and accepted with appreciation the offer from Indonesia to host it.

Meeting documents and presentations are available at www.ioc-tsunami.org/iotwms-12.

Expert Consultation on Scientific Tsunami Hazard Assessment of the Makran Subduction Zone

The Makran Subduction Zone (MSZ) is still poorly understood even though it poses a major tsunami risk in the North West Indian Ocean. Several decades after the 1945 tsunami that caused hundreds of confirmed fatalities, there are still open questions about whether the MSZ is able to generate such large tsunamis in the future. There are also questions about tsunami triggering mechanisms in the Makran, with tectonic deformation and submarine landslides being viewed as probable sources. In the worst case, tsunami waves generated by a Makran source would reach adjoining shores within a few tens of minutes with height of several metres, posing enormous challenges to tsunami warning systems, as witnessed from the recent Palu and Sunda Strait tsunamis in Indonesia.

Figure: The Makran subduction zone is an active boundary between the converging Arabian and Eurasian plates. The trench extends for about 800km and dips gently northward beneath the Arabian Sea coasts of Iran and Pakistan.              Credit: Seismicity of the Earth 1900–2010. U.S. Geological Survey, 2014.

With this background, IOC-UNESCO organised an Expert Consultation on Scientific Tsunami Hazard Assessment for the Makran Subduction Zone on 8 March 2019 in Kish Island, Iran, immediately prior to the 12th Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS-XII). The Expert Consultation was attended by 59 experts from 11 countries (mainly Australia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Oman, Pakistan, Portugal, Russian Federation, Switzerland, Thailand, USA), 1 UN agency (APDIM), research institutions, universities, private organisations and 3 Secretariat staff.

The Expert Consultation was successful in identifying current status, gaps and future priorities in the MSZ with reference to (i) Optimal observing networks for effective tsunami warning in the MSZ, (ii) Seismicity of the MSZ and Credible Maximum Earthquake Magnitude, (iii) Tsunami Hazard Assessment in the MSZ, (iv) Potential impact of Seismic and Secondary non-seismic effects on tsunami generation in MSZ including Red Sea and Persian Gulf and (v) Last-mile. Findings of the Expert Consultation were reported to the ICG/IOTWMS-XII session, that recommended establishing two Task Teams on “Tsunami Preparedness for a near-field Tsunami Hazard” and “Scientific Tsunami Hazard Assessment of the Makran Subduction Zone”, whose activities will be closely aligned to an upcoming project on “Strengthening Tsunami Early Warning in the North West Indian Ocean” being funded though the ESCAP multi-donor trust fund for tsunami, disaster and climate preparedness. Planned activities will enhance collective understanding of the Makran tsunami hazard, and assist Member States to assess their tsunami risk, strengthen national warning systems, enhance warning chains, develop evacuation plans, build emergency response capacity and raise community awareness, preparedness and resilience with specific emphasis on a near-field tsunami threat.

Meeting documents and presentations are available at www.ioc-tsunami.org/msz_expert_consultation.

Post-Exercise Indian Ocean Wave 2018 and Indian Ocean Tsunami Ready Workshop highlights recent achievements in community readiness

The Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS) and the Indian Ocean Tsunami Information Centre (IOTIC) held back-to-back events in Jakarta, Palu and Citeko, Indonesia during 12 November – 01 December 2018. These events focused on community preparedness for tsunami events with emphasis on lessons learnt from the Indian Ocean Wave Exercise (IOWave18) conducted on 4 and 5 September 2018 and the Palu earthquake and tsunami of 28 September 2018.

Participants and distinguished delegates at the opening session of the Post-IOWave workshop, BMKG, Jakarta, Indonesia.

The UNESCO-IOC events included:

   • International Tsunami Survey Team pre and post-field study briefings: 12 November 2018 
   • Post-IOWave Regional Workshop on Lessons Learnt from Community Participation and evaluation of IOTR indicators in pilot communities during Exercise Indian Ocean Wave 2018: 15 - 17 November 2018
   • Study visit to Palu, Sulawesi to witness the effects of the 28 September 2018 earthquake, tsunami and liquefaction: 18 November 2018 
   • 13th Meeting of the ICG/IOTWMS Steering Group: 19 - 21 November 2018
   • 3rd training on Tsunami Evacuation Maps, Plans and Procedures: 22 November - 01 December 2018

The International Tsunami Survey Team (ITST) pre and post-field study briefings were overseen by the Indian Ocean Tsunami Information Centre (IOTIC) and International Tsunami Information centre (ITIC), and were organized at the offices of the Ministry of Research Technology and Higher Education (MORTHE) of the Government of Indonesia on 12 November 2018. So far, 7 Teams (68 scientists from 19 countries and Indonesia) visited Palu, Sulawesi where the M7.4 earthquake, tsunami and liquefaction have resulted in over 2,100 deaths, 1,000 persons missing and 70,000 persons displaced. Data collection included tsunami flow depths and inundation limits, damage to buildings and infrastructure, and eyewitness interviews. In addition, a team of IOTWMS representatives from India, Oman, Thailand and the Secretariat undertook at study visit to Palu supported by representatives from the BMKG Jakarta and Palu offices.

Pictures showing impact of the devastating tsunami of 28 September 2018.

The Post-IOWave Regional Workshop on Lessons Learnt from Community Participation and evaluation of IOTR indicators in pilot communities during Exercise Indian Ocean Wave 2018 was held in Jakarta during 15–17 2018. This workshop was part of the IOTIC-BMKG programme for 2018 and was attended by more than 24 participants from 12 countries. Notably, during Exercise IOWave18 a record 119,000 people participated in community evacuations and importantly, 6 communities in India and 1 community in Oman evaluated Indian Ocean Tsunami Ready indicators.

Participants tour the Tsunami Early Warning Centre of Tsunami Service Provider Indonesia during the regional post-IOWave18 workshop, Jakarta, Indonesia.

The 13^th Meeting of the ICG/IOTWMS Steering Group was attended by 13 participants from five countries, invited experts/observers, and UNESCO-IOC staff members. The Steering Group discussed the Palu, Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, work plans of its Working Groups and Task Teams, and plans for the upcoming ICG/IOTWMS-XII to be held in Kish Island, Iran (9–12 March 2019) immediately following the Expert Consultation on Scientific Tsunami Hazard Assessment of the Makran Subduction Zone (8 March 2019). The Expert Consultation aligns with the Steering Group recognition of near-field events as a priority for capacity development, particularly in the Makran Subduction Zone, which is poorly understood even though it poses a major tsunami risk in the North West Indian Ocean.

The Training on Tsunami Evacuation Maps, Plans and Procedures (TEMPP-3) was held at BMKG training centre in Citeko, Indonesia during 22 November – 1 December 2018. This is the 3^rd in a series of TEMPP trainings organised under the IOTIC-BMKG programme and was attended by 20 participants from 7 countries and trainers from India, Indonesia, and IOC UNESCO. Throughout the training, participants collaborated in the development of tsunami inundation and evacuation maps. The maps were produced using ComMIT and QGIS software and underpinned by national near-coast bathymetry and topography data in conjunction with freely available global bathymetric data. Participants also drafted templates of public display of tsunami information and discussed evacuation response plans, standard operating procedures and exercise planning.

Participants creating public displays of tsunami information during the Tsunami Training on Tsunami Evacuation Maps, Plans and Procedures (TEMPP-3), Citeko, Indonesia.

Fifteenth Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas (ICG/NEAMTWS-XV): IMPA, Portugal to Apply for TSP Accreditation

The Fifteenth Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System in the North-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and connected seas (ICG/NEAMTWS) was held from 25–28 November 2018, Paris, France at UNESCO Headquarters.

Participants reviewed the progress made in the implementation of the NEAMTWS.

The Group discussed and approved the NEAMWave17 exercise (31 October - 3 November 2017 that tested the system in both its up-stream and down-stream elements) evaluation report.

The ICG was informed of the intention of IPMA, Portugal to apply for accreditation to become Tsunami Service Provider in the next intersessional period.

The session appreciated the continued effort of IOC in organising workshops in North-African countries supporting the further development of national tsunami early warming and mitigation capacities.

The Group welcomed the survey, analysis and proposed strategies for revitalizing NEAMTIC (Tsunami Information Center), and tasked Working Group 4 on Public Awareness, Preparedness and Mitigation with further analysis and requested an action plan for the redevelopment of the NEAMTIC website, and to report at the next ICG/NEAMTWS Steering Committee.

A significant part of the session explored future opportunities towards the establishment of a Tsunami Thematic Core Service (TCS) within EPOS – The European Plate Observing System, and European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC).

The session appreciated a presentation by Cecilia Valbonesi, INGV Rome – University of Florence on legal aspects of risk governance - liability of scientist and Civil Protection Authorities in Tsunami Warning System.

The ICG/NEAMTWS decided to organise and conduct the fourth tsunami exercise in 2020 (NEAMWave20).

The Fifteenth Session of ICG/NEAMTWS was attended by 61 participants from 17 member states and 3 observer organizations.