PORVORIM
Confusion prevailed in Porvorim on Wednesday night after a siren and an incorrect tsunami alert was relayed from the Multi-Purpose Cyclone Shelter (MPCS), which is adjacent to the fire station at Porvorim.
A siren first began to blare from the MPCS at about 9 pm and this was followed by a blinking red light alert and false tsunami message, “Tsunami alert, keep away from the beach,” taking people around the area by surprise.
Many people began calling up the Porvorim police and the Porvorim fire station to enquire about the siren and alert, while messages on social media further added to the confusion.
It was initially assumed that the siren was from the Porvorim Fire Station, which shares the same premises as the MPCS.
When contacted, Director of Fire and Emergency Services Nitin Raiker clarified that the siren and false tsunami alert had nothing to do with the Porvorim fire station.
“There was a technical fault and a tsunami siren and message were relayed from the cyclone shelter adjacent to the Porvorim fire station,” said Raiker.
A source at the Porvorim fire station also confirmed that siren and false alert had been incorrectly relayed from the MPCS, which is part of the State Disaster Management Authority.
“There is a siren installed at the MPCS which is connected through satellite. There was a loose connection in the system, on account of which the siren started ringing automatically followed by the recorded message,” said the source.
Porvorim Police also made enquires after hearing the siren and message, and checked with their head office, the Porvorim fire station and Meteorological department, before confirming that it had been a fake alert.
Meantime, the Indian National Centre for Ocean information Services (INCOIS) clarified that they had not issued any alert about Tsunami.
In a message to the public, the Goa State Disaster Management Authority stated: “It is to inform public and clarify that there is no Tsunami Alert by INCOIS and the blowing of Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS) Siren at MPCS Porvorim has occurred due to a technical problem. All are advised not to Panic as the technical problem has been resolved.”
