"..two considered to be verging on uninhabitable." Are you sure the 'Authorities' have got this right? There's about 2 to 300 uninhabitable shacks in Chalong alone.

Posted by Jon on April 17, 2012 17:40

Im going to phuket tomorrow? How safe is it now? Im getting really scared

Posted by Anonymous on April 17, 2012 18:22

Thank you for keeping Phuket beautiful! I'm coming in 2 weeks and nothing, not even this quake will stop me. Its unlikely to happen again so soon, and I'm not gong to go through life worrying about what might happen. I'm from London after all.

Posted by Jamie Dudderidge on April 17, 2012 22:43

Thanks for the news as I am working in W.Africa. It was not significant enough to make international news ... but important to me as some of my family are holidying in Phuket. I called them & whilst they felt the quake & after shocks, stated there was nothing to worry about. So no need for the scaremongers to add to Phuket's woes.

Posted by Logic on April 17, 2012 23:32

im going back to patong in 5 weeks, no cancelation for me, not going to worry about a tsunami. life is one big risk, love thailand and phuket and will always go back each year.

Posted by Darren walker on April 18, 2012 00:51

Are you sure they will be told in good time..
what about the PM of Thailand going on national TV at 7.30 pm, an hour after the Disater center had given the all clear...

Posted by johndev on April 18, 2012 05:03

we are heading there [Phuket] saturday week so looking forward to it we will just make sure we know exactly what the evacuation proceedures are its NOT going to stop us from enjoying such a wonderful place.

Posted by sue on April 18, 2012 09:19

ED - "No need to be scared. Phuket is as safe as it can be. No cause for alarm. People will be told in good time if there's another earthquake"

If this is true - Phuket is the first place on earth to have this early earthquake warning system!!! I'm I right ED?

Posted by Retired roadworker on April 18, 2012 12:46

Being told in good time depends where on Phuket you happen to be, as was demonstrated vividly in the past few days.

A significant number of warning towers did not sound any alarm, no official English language information was available during that time and as even reported in PW, general confusion would be a more accurate description.

I don't think one should be scared but a healthy level of concern and suspicion about the ability of local authorities to handle such emergencies would be advisable.

Posted by Steve C. on April 18, 2012 13:35

@ Ed

Yes, I agree. However it is my understanding that immediately after the big earthquake an official evacuation was indeed ordered, yet most towers remained silent.

The problem is that a person cannot know if it's a tsunami watch or evacuation unless that information is communicated in one way or another.

I was under the impression that the warning towers were initially set up to deliver several different types of messages, not just a warning siren.

I believe they would be the most effective way to convey such critical information but the lack of maintenance has rendered them all but useless. This negligence is what I find disturbing.

The virtual collapse of the mobile phone networks shows that SMS is not a reliable way to warn people either.

I got my NDWC warning in Thai over AIS about 1hr after the evacuation order was cancelled. Had a tsunami actually hit, it would not have been of any use to anyone.

People should not be scared or overreact but I think it is right to demand due diligence from the authorities in such critical safety matters.

Posted by Steve C. on April 18, 2012 14:20

If mosques can have sound systems that carry all over their neighbourhood, then why cannot the authorities have some similar system covering all built up areas? Maybe they should ask the mosques to participate in such a scheme!

Posted by Logic on April 19, 2012 18:05