ID :
167639
Sat, 03/12/2011 - 10:59
Auther :

Thailand conveys condolence to quake-hit Japan

BANGKOK, March 12 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Saturday that his government has sent a letter of condolence to the Japanese government after a strongest 8.9 earthquake hit Japan's northeastern region, followed by a massive tsunami on Friday, killing hundreds of people and injuring a score of others.

The Thai premier told reporters that Thailand will also provide some five million baht assistance to Japan initially. Abhisit confirmed that there had been no reports on any fatality and injury of Thai people living in Japan. There are reportedly up to about 50,000 Thai nationals in Japan.

Meanwhile, Thailand's earthquake monitoring center at the Meteorological Department said that it had closely monitored the situation in Thai coastal areas but having found no signs of any possible tsunami caused by the earthquake in Japan. Earlier, the Meteorological Department issued a warning for 15 Thai provinces along the Gulf of Thailand to be on high alert, from Friday night to Saturday morning, for a possible tsunami triggered by the massive quake in Japan.

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) also confirmed that the strong quake in Japan did not affect two major dams in Thailand's western Kanchanaburi Province, including Sri Nakharin and Vajiralongkorn Dams, judging from seismic meters attached at both sites.

Each year, more than 100 earthquakes of high magnitudes of over 6, classified as great or higher, rocks several global areas, with 13 of them having reported this year so far. The worst quake last year was in Haiti, where more than 230,000 people were killed. (TNA)

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