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.''
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.''
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