Observatory takes on broader role

THE Port Moresby Geophysical Observatory that monitors tsunami and earthquake activities in the country has assumed a broader role, Geohazards Management Division acting director Chris Mckee says.
“We are now also looking at matters such as seismic assessment,” he said at the recent commissioning of an office extension called the McKee Wing.
“Aligned to that is the revision of the building codes of Papua New Guinea.
“Tsunami hazard assessment and the need to reach out to the public is another activity that we are into now.
“And to do that, it has been decided that a geohazards website would be set up for alerts and information to be sent out.
“We have had significant progress on all those matters recently, partly through our own efforts and through collaboration with Geoscience Australia.“With a broader role for the observatory, we will need a couple of other things and one is an increase in manpower and also the need to expand the facilities.”He said that work on the expansion of the observatory started in 2019.

From left: Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management
secretary Harry Kore shaking hands with acting director of Geohazards
management division Chris Mckee with deputy secretary Winterford Eko
in the new Mckee wing.

Top: Acting assistant director of Port Moresby Geophysical
Observatory Mathew Moihoi (left) explaining live earthquake
and tsunami readings to Department of Mineral Policy and
Geohazards Management deputy secretary Winterford Eko.