Eumetsat, the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, is making a satellite available to help in the future detection of Tsunamis in Asia. It will make access to its satellite that covers the Indian Ocean available to the international community for use in constructing a tsunami warning system. Dr. Lars Prahm, Director-General of Eumetsat, commented, “The scale of the tragedy demands urgent action and Europe can play a significant role. As we all start to analyze what happened, it is becoming clear that many lives could have been saved with an adequate system in place.”

Eumetsat’s Meteosat 5 satellite is the current satellite providing service in the Indian Ocean, although it will be replaced by Meteosat 7, which will be moved there in 2006. This is subject to the successful launch and commissioning of Meteosat 9 in 2005.