For the first time in its history, the country began the implementation of the Peruvian Seismic Warning System (SASPe), which will warn thousands of citizens of seismic waves generated by a major earthquake several seconds in advance.
Julio Kuroiwa, the first seismic accelerometer station in Peru, was implemented on Friday at Morro Solar in Lima's Chorrillos district.
Tavera explained that SASPe does not predict the occurrence of an earthquake but —after the occurrence of a large event— alerts people seconds before seismic waves hit an urban area.
"If the warning system had been in place during the 2007 Pisco earthquake, the alert would have been received 40 seconds ahead in Lima," he explained.
"It is a warning that seismic waves —which cause shaking in the ground— are on their way and gives people time to protect themselves," the IGP head added.
Tavera noted that seismic waves travel at 5 or 6 km per second and —for this reason— "the reaction time will be less for the people who are close to the epicenter, while those who are far away will have more time to evacuate."
"The furthest a city is from the epicenter, the more time to protect themselves people have. For example, if there was an earthquake in a southern province, the population would be warned —once it occurs— that the same seismic waves are heading to Lima. That is an early warning," he pointed out.
Additionally, he noted that the Julio Kuroiwa Station is key because —in addition to having a sensor— it connects to others located in Hormigas (60 km offshore) and San Lorenzo Islands, which are the furthest away from the coastal area and the closest to the zone where large earthquakes occur.
(END) NDP/RRC/RMB/MVB
Published: 7/24/2020