KHAO LAK: Efforts were being made to ensure local people knew when to evacuate before a tsunami struck Thailand again, a warning system expert told Phuketwan yesterday.
Captain Song Ekmahachai, acting director of the warning and disaster section, National Disaster Warning Centre, was speaking at the commemoration ceremony in Khao Lak to mark the 10th anniversary.
''If you feel the ground shaking,'' he said, ''there's no need to wait to be told to evacuate.''
He said that the beach towers strung along the Andaman shoreline and Phuket's west coast beaches would only sound if there was a confirmed tsunami.
''People should have two to two-and-a-half hours' warning,'' he said.
There were three tiers to the system, the buoys in international waters, the buoys in Thai waters and the land-based system that would give a minimum of 30 minutes' warning, he said.
''We are going to the local communities to let them know what to do,'' he said.
One of the most devastated of the villages along the Thai coast, Nam Khem, has its own connection direct to the National Disaster Warning Centre.
What's never been clarified is how well resorts will react. Awareness of the fact that Thailand's Andaman is in a tsunami hazard zone appears to vary from resort to resort.
Staying two weeks ago at a resort that was smashed by the tsunami and where the daughter of the owner died, Phuketwan noted no mention of the tsunami in the renovated rooms. Ten years on, it appears some managements are content to keep their guests ignorant of the region's recent history.
Thailand and at least 26 other countries were represented at yesterday evening's main commemoration ceremony in Khao Lak. Envoys were present from the following countries:
Switzerland, Malta, Denmark, Qatar. New Zealand, Germany, Britain, Belgium, Japan, Philippines, Korea, South Africa, Kazakstan, Italy, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Norway, Russia, Australia, Luxemburg, Ireland, Finland, Spain, Sri Lanka and Canada. NGOs and major charities from 44 countries were also represented.
Other smaller ceremonies took place around the region and on Phuket and Phi Phi in Krabi.
Captain Song Ekmahachai, acting director of the warning and disaster section, National Disaster Warning Centre, was speaking at the commemoration ceremony in Khao Lak to mark the 10th anniversary.
''If you feel the ground shaking,'' he said, ''there's no need to wait to be told to evacuate.''
He said that the beach towers strung along the Andaman shoreline and Phuket's west coast beaches would only sound if there was a confirmed tsunami.
''People should have two to two-and-a-half hours' warning,'' he said.
There were three tiers to the system, the buoys in international waters, the buoys in Thai waters and the land-based system that would give a minimum of 30 minutes' warning, he said.
''We are going to the local communities to let them know what to do,'' he said.
One of the most devastated of the villages along the Thai coast, Nam Khem, has its own connection direct to the National Disaster Warning Centre.
What's never been clarified is how well resorts will react. Awareness of the fact that Thailand's Andaman is in a tsunami hazard zone appears to vary from resort to resort.
Staying two weeks ago at a resort that was smashed by the tsunami and where the daughter of the owner died, Phuketwan noted no mention of the tsunami in the renovated rooms. Ten years on, it appears some managements are content to keep their guests ignorant of the region's recent history.
Thailand and at least 26 other countries were represented at yesterday evening's main commemoration ceremony in Khao Lak. Envoys were present from the following countries:
Switzerland, Malta, Denmark, Qatar. New Zealand, Germany, Britain, Belgium, Japan, Philippines, Korea, South Africa, Kazakstan, Italy, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Norway, Russia, Australia, Luxemburg, Ireland, Finland, Spain, Sri Lanka and Canada. NGOs and major charities from 44 countries were also represented.
Other smaller ceremonies took place around the region and on Phuket and Phi Phi in Krabi.
Dear god please never let this happen again
Posted by Scunner on December 28, 2014 01:04