Monday Jun 04, 2007

False tsunami warning creates panic

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia --A tsunami warning siren went off accidentally in Indonesia's Aceh province on Monday, causing residents to flee their homes and run to higher ground, officials said.

Authorities were investigating why the siren rang out for around 30 minutes in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, much of which was destroyed in the 2004 tsunami disaster.

"We would like to apologize for causing the panic. The siren went off by itself," said Suhardjono, a scientist from the Geophysical and Meteorological Agency, which maintains the warning system.