Weather Experts From 22 Nations Hold Tsunami Warning Meet

[Kan Win]

BANGKOK, Dec 15 (TNA) - Some 40 experts from 22 countries will gather in the Thai capital next week and for a three-day workshop on exchanging tsunami warnings and other vital information on the deadly waves which had claimed the lives of over 200,000 persons and caused major property damage in countries along the Andaman Sea and the Indian Ocean almost three years ago.

The workshop, sponsored financially by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service, opens Tuesday in Bangkok.

The purpose of the workshop is to promote the use of a global telecommunication system which could lead to exchanging information on tsunami warnings and other related issues including sea level and seismic data, and how to use software during operations.

Statistics released by the UN World Health Organization showed that 214,344 people died, 142,079 remain missing and 34,410 were injured after the monstrous tsunami waves hit countries along the Andaman Sea and the Indian Ocean, including Thailand, on Dec 26, 2004. (TNA)-E111

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Kan Win