UPDATE and News Analysis
A TSUNAMI warning for Phuket was cancelled at 6.58pm this evening. The alert, from the National Disaster Warning Centre, meant that local authorities were preparing to evacuate Phuket's west coast tourist resorts and villages. But at 6.58pm, the warning was cancelled.
The alert came on a day when a tsunami struck the Pacific island nations of Samoa and American Samoa, killing scores of people. Tonight's alert once again highlights the need for eternal vigilance and improvements to the current system. While a second catastrophic tsunami along the Andaman coast is unlikely, there are no guarantees. A 24-hour system that explains to tourists and residents who will warn them about an approaching tsunami at 3am needs to be implemented immediately.
Original Report
PHUKET was placed on a tsunami alert tonight with a Level Two warning from the National Disaster Warning Centre in Bangkok.
Governor Wichai Praisa-nob was on his way to Patong to make sure authorities were in control of the situation.
The alert, issued this evening, anticipated a wave would arrive at Karon beach at 8.46pm and at Nai Yang, to the island's north near the airport, at 8.57pm. The wave would have arrived at Phi Phi at 9.27pm and at Ranong at 10.11pm.
The alert followed an undersea quake off southern Sumatra. The epicentre was 984 kilometres from Phuket, hence the advanced warning.
At this stage, the warning is at Level Two, one stage short of Level Three, which would mean an evacuation is underway.
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