Press Release: Tsunami and earthquake research: meeting in Brussels on 20 May to learn lessons and boost cooperation

An EU-funded research project called SAFER has developed a groundbreaking earthquake early-warning system based on low-cost sensor technology used in car air-bags. Another, DEWS, has paved the way for a new warning system which has reduced by two-thirds the time needed to detect a seismic event that could trigger a tsunami in the Indian Ocean region, so badly hit in 2004. DEWS has also developed a text message alert system to maximise time for people to escape.

Leaders of these and five other innovative EU-funded projects aiming to save lives when earthquakes and tsunamis strike will take part on 20 May in Brussels in a European Commission workshop on "Tsunami risk in Europe – Research Achievements and Future Perspectives". The Commission's Joint Research Centre will be a key participant, given its work coordinating the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS).

The Emergency Response Service currently in preparation under EU's Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) programme will also be represented. Among the key questions addressed will be: what lessons can be learnt from the recent Japanese disaster, with a presentation by Masahiro Yamamoto of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission; how serious are the risks in Europe and what can be done to mitigate these; what are the future challenges for earthquake/tsunami science; and in which specific areas is more research needed?

European Commission: Memo/11/304: Projects taking part in the European Commission's workshop on earthquake and tsunami risk, 20 may 2011 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/304&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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