Islands in the Caribbean will test a regional tsunami warning system on Thurdsay, March 17.

The purpose of the test is to identify possible weaknesses in the Tsunami and other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions, which was established in 2005, established under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO).

The exercise will simulate a double scenario: a major earthquake off the coast of Venezuela and another off the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, and will feature fictitious messages sent by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) to the countries taking part in the exercise.

Countries can choose to extend the test at the local level by disseminating the alert via sirens or loudspeakers.