From the Belfast, Ireland Telegraph:
Tsunami warning buoys failed as powerful earthquake hit Indonesia
All 22 tsunami warning buoys installed near vulnerable islands failed to work when a powerful earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesian officials said.
The buoys were inoperable because of vandalism or a lack of funds for operation and maintenance, Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.
About the buoy network:
German and Indonesian scientists began installing warning buoys off Sumatra island a year after a magnitude-9.1 quake in 2004 triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 people in a dozen countries.
Geezz - vandalism I can see. A tempting target for the lone fishing boat looking for a light or battery. Poor maintenance is unreal - these people are dealing with a system that saves lives. They lost 230K people eleven years ago. Heads need to roll on this one.
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