JAKARTA, 28 July 2006 - Indonesia plans to construct elevated safe zones near low-lying coastal resorts across the country as anticipatory measures against tsunami, a newspaper said Friday. The sites will consist of elevated land areas about four to five meters high and located about 500 meters from the shoreline to speed up evacuations during tsunamis, The Jakarta Post reported, quoting a senior official.

"The construction of the facilities will be in one package withthe installation of the tsunami warning system devices," said Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik. Meanwhile, Research and Technology Minister Kusmayanto Kadiman said Thursday the government aimed to complete the construction of three seismic devices in Sumatra, Java and Bali by the end of the year.

"In line with the construction of the devices, the government also plans to install sirens on mobile phone transmission towers,"he said. The moves follow the devastating tsunami on July 17, that swept through 180-km coastlines on southern Java island, killing about 600 people.

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