Minister of Research and Technology Kusmayanto Kadiman told the House of Representatives on Thursday that technological and financial constraints had hampered the earthquake detections.

    "Many seismographs we have are aging and broken," he said, adding that the country at the time being has only 58 seismographs.

    He also complained about the tiny portion for research spending, which is set at only 0.05 percent of the gross domestic product for the fiscal year 2007.

    But when it is a matter of saving people's lives, there is no reason to give up.

    During the gradual process towards a well-established tsunami warning system, the government will use a variety of communication methods to disseminate tsunami warning bulletins, said J.A. Barata, spokesman for the Transportation Ministry.

    The government will report breaking news via radio and television or send text messages to cellular phones.

    Using its authority as radio and TV broadcast regulator, the government will interrupt any broadcast with the tsunami warning whenever necessary.

    "It is a kind of breaking news that will interrupt any radio and TV program to ensure that earthquake information and warning of a possible tsunami can reach the public quickly," said Barata.

    It is also vital to educate people in coastal areas about the danger of tsunami and what to do when tsunami strikes.

    President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on a visit to southern Java coast in Banten Thursday told local governments to train their people in dealing with possible tsunamis.

    "The rescue procedures must be prepared immediately and all residents in coastal areas must be trained how to save their lives when the disaster becomes real so that we can avoid casualties," said Susilo. Enditem