Yangon: A retaining wall will be constructed in an area in Myanmar’s southern Ayeyawaddy division which was most affected by the deadly tsunami a year ago, a local news journal reported Thursday.

“The retaining wall will be built in Laputta Pyinsalu region with the fund of the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) obtained through tsunami aid,” the Khit Myanmar quoted the MRCS as saying.

Along with the retaining wall, a primary school, which was destroyed during the event, will also be built, the sources said.

Early this year, in a bid to strengthen its tsunami warning system, Myanmar set up a national committee for natural disaster prevention and resettlement that involves some ministries. Later in March, the country set up its national tsunami warning center and the center is expected to be fully operational in three years.

Although Myanmar was not much affected by last Dec. 26 tsunami that smashed across the Indian Ocean compared with other South and Southeast Asian nations, officially reported the death tolls in the country stood at 64 with 56 injured in coastal areas. The tidal wave destroyed over 600 houses in 29 villages, leaving 3,460 people homeless in some of the regions in six divisions and states — Tanintharyi, Yangon, Bago, Ayeyawaddy, Rakhine and Shan.

In the post-tsunami period, Myanmar has also been undertaking a coastal storm and tidal surge forecast project for improved weather prediction services. The project, being implemented with the assistance of the Honolulu-based PACON International (the Pacific Congress on Marine Science Technology), involves the utilization of numerical prediction method to provide advance warning of storm and tidal surge.

Besides, the MHD ( Medicolegal and Hydrology Department) is also strengthening its public information work about natural disaster and climate change by planning to produce a series of documentaries to raise public awareness against such unpredictable mishap to help manage disaster.