PHUKET: Officials on Phuket are planning an islandwide celebration to mark Saturday, April 28, the day that rumor-mongers say Phuket will slip beneath the waves.
Officials meeting on Phuket today to consider what to do about disaster precautions in future opted to laugh off predictions that Phuket will sink into the sea on Saturday.
Various events are being planned along Phuket's most popular beaches, activities at Phuket International Airport, and a ceremony at the centre of Phuket's recent earthquake, Bann Kham Liporn, in Moo 2, Srisoonthorn, Thalang.
The Bangkok Post reported this evening that the rumors of Phuket's impending end had been spread by a gang who wanted to trigger a fall in property prices so the valuable real estate could be bought up at rock-bottom prices.
At the request of Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha, police are tracking down the doomsayers.
The laughable prophecy has a few problems to overcome if Phuket is to go under.
For a start, the Director of the Department if Mineral Resources, Lertsin Raksasakulwang, told a meeting at Provincial Hall in Phuket City today, Phuket is underpinned by 27 kilometres of sheer granite.
''Whether a big earthquake or an atomic bomb occurs, Phuket will definitely not sink,'' he said.
While the rumor is lame to anyone with a basic knowledge of geology, people in the tourism industry fear that superstitious Thais are likely to be alarmed and cancel trips to Phuket.
The tsunami alert triggered by earthquakes off Indonesia of magnitude 8.6 and 8.2 on April 11 was followed by an earthquake on Phuket of magnitude 4.3 on April 16.
Today's meeting heard that while Thai tourists were likely to be alarmed at shakes in Thailand, international visitors were more worldy and less likely to be put off by earthquakes.
Officials meeting on Phuket today to consider what to do about disaster precautions in future opted to laugh off predictions that Phuket will sink into the sea on Saturday.
Various events are being planned along Phuket's most popular beaches, activities at Phuket International Airport, and a ceremony at the centre of Phuket's recent earthquake, Bann Kham Liporn, in Moo 2, Srisoonthorn, Thalang.
The Bangkok Post reported this evening that the rumors of Phuket's impending end had been spread by a gang who wanted to trigger a fall in property prices so the valuable real estate could be bought up at rock-bottom prices.
At the request of Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha, police are tracking down the doomsayers.
The laughable prophecy has a few problems to overcome if Phuket is to go under.
For a start, the Director of the Department if Mineral Resources, Lertsin Raksasakulwang, told a meeting at Provincial Hall in Phuket City today, Phuket is underpinned by 27 kilometres of sheer granite.
''Whether a big earthquake or an atomic bomb occurs, Phuket will definitely not sink,'' he said.
While the rumor is lame to anyone with a basic knowledge of geology, people in the tourism industry fear that superstitious Thais are likely to be alarmed and cancel trips to Phuket.
The tsunami alert triggered by earthquakes off Indonesia of magnitude 8.6 and 8.2 on April 11 was followed by an earthquake on Phuket of magnitude 4.3 on April 16.
Today's meeting heard that while Thai tourists were likely to be alarmed at shakes in Thailand, international visitors were more worldy and less likely to be put off by earthquakes.
Is there anyone left here to celebrate? Some businesses in Patong are really struggling, after staff...and customers fled because of these stupid rumors.
Posted by agogohome on April 24, 2012 08:34