ID :
76398
Fri, 08/21/2009 - 16:49
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http://m.oananews.org//node/76398
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Thailand conducts tsunami drill in Andaman coastal provinces
PHUKET, Aug 21 (TNA) – Thailand’s fourth tsunami evacuation practice was held across six Andaman coastal provinces, including the tourist resort island of Phuket, aiming to reassure local residents and tourists alike regarding the safety of the warning system.
Sirens on 79 warning towers in Phuket, Phangnga, Krabi, Ranong, Trang and Satun province blared at about 10.45 am as locals and holidaymakers joined an evacuation exercise.
The disaster warning proceeded both in Thai and in English, instructing local residents, as well as Thai and international holidaymakers to evacuate from shoreline areas to safer places on higher ground.
Meanwhile, local medical teams and rescue units also rushed to seek and help mock victims onshore and offshore.
Patong beach in Phuket is the main venue where Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban presided over Friday’s tsunami drill.
The drill began at 10.20 am when the authorities simulated an earthquake of 8.8 on the Richter scale somewhere in the Andaman Sea, where it was at high risk of generating tsunami waves in costal Andaman areas.
After being notified of the quake by the Thai Meteorological Department, the National Disaster Warning Centre then sent short messages to department executives, to the governors of the six provinces and to a variety of officials to monitor the earthquake situation.
Meanwhile, a full-scale drill in Ban Namkhem village, a fisherman village hard hit by the 2004 tsunami, ended successfully with the cooperation of local residents and officials from agencies concerned.
However, some areas faced glitches regarding low-volume sound of sirens.
In Krabi, the tsunami drill was conducted at the Fossil Shell Beach, a tourist attraction. However, most of participants are locals.
Phuket and the five nearby seaside provinces were hit by the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004, which killed 5,400 people in Thailand alone -- half of them foreigners on holiday. (TNA)
Sirens on 79 warning towers in Phuket, Phangnga, Krabi, Ranong, Trang and Satun province blared at about 10.45 am as locals and holidaymakers joined an evacuation exercise.
The disaster warning proceeded both in Thai and in English, instructing local residents, as well as Thai and international holidaymakers to evacuate from shoreline areas to safer places on higher ground.
Meanwhile, local medical teams and rescue units also rushed to seek and help mock victims onshore and offshore.
Patong beach in Phuket is the main venue where Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban presided over Friday’s tsunami drill.
The drill began at 10.20 am when the authorities simulated an earthquake of 8.8 on the Richter scale somewhere in the Andaman Sea, where it was at high risk of generating tsunami waves in costal Andaman areas.
After being notified of the quake by the Thai Meteorological Department, the National Disaster Warning Centre then sent short messages to department executives, to the governors of the six provinces and to a variety of officials to monitor the earthquake situation.
Meanwhile, a full-scale drill in Ban Namkhem village, a fisherman village hard hit by the 2004 tsunami, ended successfully with the cooperation of local residents and officials from agencies concerned.
However, some areas faced glitches regarding low-volume sound of sirens.
In Krabi, the tsunami drill was conducted at the Fossil Shell Beach, a tourist attraction. However, most of participants are locals.
Phuket and the five nearby seaside provinces were hit by the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004, which killed 5,400 people in Thailand alone -- half of them foreigners on holiday. (TNA)
