ID :
121108
Sun, 05/09/2010 - 20:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/121108
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Phuket on alert after 7.4 Richter scale quake hits northern Sumatra
PHUKET, May 9 (TNA) -- Thai disaster prevention officials in southern Thailand's Andaman Sea coastal provinces were on alert Sunday although the National Disaster Warning Center ended the alert early Sunday afternoon.
Although neither damages nor casualties were reported, Sant Chantrawong, head of disaster response in the southern resort of Phuket, said emergency workers were instructed to stay on full alert even after the national office had decided to scrap the warning at 2.20pm.
Residents of high-rise buildings could feel the earthquake, Mr Sant said. University students with classes on the fifth and sixth storeys ran from the building, but returned to classes later.
Maitri Jongkraichak, an emergency coordinator in nearby Phangnga's Takua Pa district said local residents did not panic as they had experienced a tsunami before and they were also confident in the security warning system.
Reports by international news agencies said the 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Sumatra at 12.59pm (0559 GMT) Sunday Thailand time some 140 miles south of Banda Aceh and briefly caused panic.
A tsunami watch issued by the United States Geological Survey was later cancelled after sea level readings indicated that a significant tsunami was not generated.
Some 5,400 people in Thailand’s six Andaman Sea coastal provinces, half of them international tourists, perished in the deadly tsunami which hit the area on December 26, 2004. (TNA)
Although neither damages nor casualties were reported, Sant Chantrawong, head of disaster response in the southern resort of Phuket, said emergency workers were instructed to stay on full alert even after the national office had decided to scrap the warning at 2.20pm.
Residents of high-rise buildings could feel the earthquake, Mr Sant said. University students with classes on the fifth and sixth storeys ran from the building, but returned to classes later.
Maitri Jongkraichak, an emergency coordinator in nearby Phangnga's Takua Pa district said local residents did not panic as they had experienced a tsunami before and they were also confident in the security warning system.
Reports by international news agencies said the 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Sumatra at 12.59pm (0559 GMT) Sunday Thailand time some 140 miles south of Banda Aceh and briefly caused panic.
A tsunami watch issued by the United States Geological Survey was later cancelled after sea level readings indicated that a significant tsunami was not generated.
Some 5,400 people in Thailand’s six Andaman Sea coastal provinces, half of them international tourists, perished in the deadly tsunami which hit the area on December 26, 2004. (TNA)
