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Seismology boxes go in at Phuket's Thalang epicentre today

Phuket Shakes Need Honest Reporting

Thursday, April 19, 2012
PHUKET: As Associated Press reports today, seismologists say last week's powerful earthquake off western Indonesia ''increased pressure on the source of the devastating 2004 tsunami: a fault that could unleash another monster wave sometime in the next few decades.''

People in Phuket's tourism industry continue to urge the media to write ''positive'' stories about Phuket. Yet the most positive thing the media anywhere can do is report the truth in a fair and balanced way.

And the truth is that independent seismologists have reported that the timing of another megathrust temblor, if it's on the way, "could have been advanced by a few years."

Kerry Sieh, director of the Earth Observatory of Singapore, told AP about the latest earthquakes: ''The spring was pushed a little bit tighter.''

The positive for Phuket is that officials are now treating Phuket's place in a tsunami hazard zone more seriously than at any time since 2005, when tsunami siren towers and ''which way to run'' signs were considered sufficient.

Today, one team of telecom officials met in Phuket City to suggest solutions to the problem of the mobile telephone system collapsing, as it did when the earthquakes hit last Wednesday.

Another team of specialists from the Thai Geological Department set up sensitive monitoring devices around the central Thalang district, where Monday's dramatic 4.3 aftershock brought alarm further inland on Phuket.

While the 8.6 and 8.2 earthquakes last Wednesday triggered evacuations along Phuket's west coast, it was the less significant but much louder 4.3 earthquake that sounded across the entire island on Monday - and frightened many people well away from the coast.

And now, with psychiatrists being flown in to deal with panick-stricken locals, at least the national government has accepted that Phuket really is in a tsunami and earthquake zone.

The good work being done to confront the reality in terms of measuring further quakes and allowing the mobile telephone system to survive future alarms needs to be replicated in the tourism industry.

No longer is it possible to pretend that the 2004 tsunami was a once-in-several-hundred years event that will not happen again.

The seismologists' advice is that Phuket and other places in the tsunami zone should become more vigilant.

There is no reason why tourists should avoid Phuket. It's a great destination, and with confidence in the warning system, tourists should feel secure anywhere along the Andaman coast.

But tourists' confidence will only come if people in tourism accept that the most ''positive'' thing that can be said about Phuket is that it has taken all possible measures to protect residents and visitors.

That process appeared to have a clear beginning today.

The last word from seismologist Sieh to AP: ''The next megathrust rupture could be in 50 years or in five. It's impossible to know.''

Comments

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Speculating on potential disaster scenarios is just that ... meer speculation. Those that live in and around these areas should be aware of the risks being so close to the 'ring of fire' will inevitably be subject to the odd rumble here and there. However we have learnt a great deal from past experiences and we are certainly better prepared. We have more information now than ever before to make a conscious and informed choice on what to do in the case of an emergency. So enjoy your holiday here (if you a tourist) and for all those expats .. well you should know the score !

Posted by reader on April 19, 2012 20:53

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Education is what is required. This could start in schools, with after hours sessions for parents. It could be developed from that start.

For tourists & visitors, leaflets should be produced & handed out with landing cards on direct international flights & distributed on domestic flights.

However, that would only work if government authorities, police, etc are properly trained as to the correct response to specific disasters such as tsunami & earthquake.

Posted by Logic on April 19, 2012 21:13

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Let's face it. The nearest epicentre for a likely next tsunami is over 1he waves away. So the time till the impact of a wave is known and should be enough to evacuate everyone. There should be no fear on Phuket for the loss of life. Tourists should be confident that if an event will take place, proper procedures will be there.

But for that the locals and staff need to train what to do, where to go from which area and what not to do. With knowledge and routine people can behave calmly and be confident. And the tourists will honor an embedded culture of awareness as a safety plus for the destination.

But for that, communication has to be better. TV/radio/mobile/towers/internet/grassroot experts should provide failsafe and clear information to execute preplanned procedures to clear the areas.

People do not need to die here in a tsunami event. Phuket is not Aceh.

Posted by Lena on April 19, 2012 21:52

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More than seventy aftershocks and tremors. I felt every one. Yes they are true.Thanks PW for the honest answers and not burying your heads in the sand. Feels like my house is directly on top of these things, at Heroines Monument.

Posted by Dun on April 20, 2012 03:14

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So, Lena, do you mean people in Aceh need to die?

Posted by Mario on April 20, 2012 06:55

Editor Comment:

What a strange conclusion, Mario.

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Fantastic article Alan. Well done. Please 'powers-that-be', start reading and listening.

There'll be plenty of empty stretches of sand in the future to bury your heads in if you continue to ignore the obvious.

Posted by Duncan on April 20, 2012 09:28

Editor Comment:

Duncan, it's difficult to find enough space on Phuket beaches these days to bury heads in the sand. There's too much furniture.

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I used to live and work in Butuan City, Philippines for over 2 years where earth tremors were a daily occurrence and at first I was somewhat alarmed, but after about 2-3 weeks I got used to the 15-20 a day tremors. They are nothing compared to the super typhoons that can strike the city which, being close to the ocean, can cause immense damage. Most buildings have steel window shutters which help minimize damage. Landslides however, during and after prolonged heavy rain, are the primary cause of loss of life, and these landslides are in the main caused by illegal logging and I have witnessed the terrible aftermath of two such landslips. Phuket, with so much of its forest land destroyed by developers and illegal loggers, is much more likely to be subjected to a massive landslide, most probably with lives lost, than it is to an earthquake or, dare I say another tsunami. Earthquakes and tsunamis are from the influence of nature, but landslides are generally from the influence of man.

Posted by Pete on April 20, 2012 12:25

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So, khun ED, if my conclusion seems strange, is Lena's conclusion respectful to people died at B. Aceh?

Posted by Mario on April 20, 2012 15:48

Editor Comment:

Lena's comment merely notes the closeness of Aceh to previous earthquake epicentres. To read anything more into it is a problem - for you, Mario. I note you continue to label me Khun Ed, Mario. Perhaps you also have trouble understanding that usually, that honorific is reserved for Thais. Honi soi qui mal y pense.

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Bla, bla, bla, Ed! You didn't answer to my question and also I suggest you to check your French, even if I'm not French! It's Ok, you aren't "khun", I was respectful, but I got wrong: you don't merit it! However Lena's conclusion was clearly wrong! Probably wrote in a wrong way. Whasn't it?

Posted by Mario on April 20, 2012 18:12

Editor Comment:

I left the question for Lena to answer, Mario. It's antique French: Evil be to he who evil thinks. I guess these days it would apply to shes as well.

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Well Mario, I think I stated only the obvious. 10 min forewarning time would not be sufficient to clear Patong properly or only in one in a hundred times with the given infrastructure. But 60 min is, or better should be, as it is not rocket science.

Btw. the best procedures were in place in this little fisher town near Takuapa. And that was hit hardest, so I hope for the people of B.Aceh they can do the same now. But I do not know.

So again, do I think people need to die on Aceh? No of course not. But if they behave like the people in Patong, they definitely will, if a next tsunami would strike the area again. Do they deserve to die? Of course not. Why on earth would they deserve it? Are you crazy?

Posted by Lena on April 20, 2012 19:42


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