Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre’s Achievements and Capabilities

The Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) at the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) in Hyderabad has detected 716 earthquakes since its establishment in October 2007, including 103 in the Indian Ocean. Created in response to the 2004 tsunami, the centre uses advanced technology to issue warnings within 10 minutes of detecting an earthquake over 6.5 on the Richter Scale in the Indian Ocean. The centre identifies two primary tsunami sources: the Makran subduction zone off Iran and Pakistan, and the Nicobar Islands. INCOIS issues four types of alerts—Red, Orange, Yellow, and Green—through various communication channels, relying on data from buoys and tide gauges.
INCOIS also provides ocean state forecasts, assisting the shipping industry, Indian Navy, and oil and gas companies, among others. Their Search and Rescue Aid Tool (SARAT) has proven effective, notably aiding the Coast Guard in locating a missing fisherman. Additionally, INCOIS offers advisories on probable fishing sites to about nine lakh fishermen and has developed coastal multi-hazard vulnerability maps and a 3D visualization application to assess socio-economic risks. A Coastal Vulnerability Atlas covering the Indian coast has also been prepared.