what i heard was a detection system would take 2 hours to come up with a warning and since land masses in the indian ocean where much closer together than in the pacific the wave would hit before or at about the same time as the warning could be issued....what i also heard was if you are ever at the coast and the sea suddenly goes out a very long way for no apparent reason don't call your freinds and family over to come and look, instead run away very fast.