Tsunami Evacuation Drill On Wednesday 25 July 9.30-10.30am

[NBT TV Phuket]

National Disaster Warning Centre (NDWC) Tsunami Evacuation Drill on Wednesday 25 July

To see or download mini-video, go to http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=214325

Patong Beach will be the main beach and center for media coverage for the tsunami evacuation drill that will occur on the 25th of July.

Just over two and a half years after the Tsunami catastrophe in the Indian Ocean, Thailand as one of the countries affected by the tidal waves, has reported its precautionary systems and measures ready with local communities involved. The country’s National Disaster Warning Centre or NDWC now has 79 warning towers installed in prone locations across all 6 Andaman Coastal provinces of Phuket, Phang-Nga, Krabi, Ranong, Trang and Satun which were hit by the natural disaster. While the early warning system has been put in place, with satellite links and activations by the central control in NonthaBuri near Bangkok, local residents have been educated on warnings and they were encouraged to take part in the community based evacuation plans. Trainings have been carried out by many organizations concerned, domestic and international. The first full scale tsunami Evacuation drill was carried out in late April 2005 after the first warning tower was then installed on the famous beach of Patong, followed by annual drills in different locations including the badly devastated locations of Ban Namkem and Khao Lak of Phang-Nga. This year the NDWC, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, in cooperation with 6 Andaman Coastal Provinces, will carry out a full scale Tsunami Evacuation Drill with audio sirens and information dissemination from 79 warning towers at the same time in all 6 provinces. The drill will take place on Wednesday 25 July between 9.30 & 10.30am. The chairman of the NDWC, Dr. Smith Dhamasaroj, said the centre has sought out cooperation from all responsible agencies to inform the public and tourists of the full scale exercise. He also stressed that the main purposes of the drill are to check out all personnel and equipment for preparedness.

In Phuket, the local authority plans to run the drill to test out 17 warning towers in different locations across the island. All responsible agencies are working towards the drill to make it the most beneficial for residents and tourists alike. The drill involves actual teams and equipment. It will simulate a supposed massive earthquake in the Indian Ocean, for which the NDWC issues a warning about and then a possible Tsunami to reach the 6 Andaman coastal provinces. That’s when the evacuation exercise begins. People, residents or tourists on the shoreline must be evacuated following the designated and clearly posted signs of evacuation routes and finally to the safe sites. The area in Patong is divided into seven zones, but the actual drill will focus on two zones. They are the entertainment roads of Soi Bang La to Soi Keb Sap and Soi Keb Sap to Pak Bang Canal at Coral Beach bridge. Five routes are designated as evacuation routes. They are Soi Bang La, subsoi to Patong Tower, Soi Ruam Jai, Pracha Nukroh Road and Coral Beach bridge while the evacuation shelters are designated at Soi Saen Sabai circle, the OTOP shopping centre, Coconut Village Junction of RatuThit Road and Pracha Nukroh Road, and finally the Coral Beach Bridge.

In Phang-Nga 18 communities, where the warning towers are stationed, will take part in the drill. They are mostly in Khao Lak, Ban Namkem , Bang Muang, Koh Kor Khao and Koh Phra Thong.

In Krabi even though 32 towers have been installed, only 12 towers will be tested out during the exercise as they are linked by satellite with the NDWC.

The centre’s chairman remarked that the drill will be the largest in the Indian ocean rim involving around 30,000 people: Patong’s drill will be the centre of media coverage and televised live by Thai TV Channel 11 on July 25th during 09.15 - 10.30 am. This exercise is considered vital for residents on the shoreline in southern Thailand as they have experienced the worst and it’s always better to be prepared as nature always strikes when we are least expecting it.

The tsunami evacuation drill will be on the 25th of July and all locals and tourist in the area are expected to cooperate.

from Special Report for Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) 8.30am + FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, both broadcast from Phuket City to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces & maybe later on Phuket Cable TV Channel 1, Monday 23 July 2007 & www.Thaisnews.com {Our news text and mini-videos can be freely copied, but give credit to Andaman News TV11 Phuket or contact [email protected]}

[Jai Dee]

Six Andaman coastal provinces will conduct a full scale Tsunami evacuation drill on Wednesday

Thailand’s National Disaster Warning Centre, together with 6 Andaman Coastal provinces of Phuket, Phang-Nga, Krabi, Ranong, Trang and Satun will carry out a full scale Tsunami Evacuation Drill with audio siren and information dissemination from 79 warning towers in all 6 provinces. The drill will take place on 25 July 2007 between 9.30 & 10.30am.

The chairman of the National Disaster Warning Centre, Dr. Smith Dhamasaroj (สมิธ ธรรมสาโรช), said the centre has sought out cooperation from all responsible agencies to inform the public and tourists of the full scale exercise. He also stressed that the drill will be the largest and most comprehensive in the Indian ocean rim and will be observed and witnessed by 40 international organizations to apply in their respective countries if it is proved to work well.

In Phuket, the local authority plans to run the drill to test out 17 warning towers in different locations across the island. The Phuket Chief of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office Arun Kerdsom detailed the locations as Patong (ป้าตอง), Kamala (กมลา), Kata Noi (กะตะน้อย), Kata Yai (กะตะใหญ่), Karon (กะรน), Rawai (ราไว), Nai Harn (ในหาน), Koh Lone (เกาะโลน), Koh Racha Yai (เกาะราชาใหญ่), Ao Yon, Chalong (ฉลอง) bay, Nai Yang (ในยาง), Mai Khao (ไม้ขาว), Bang Tao–Le Phang and Ao Por. Patong’s drill will be the centre of media coverage and televised live by Thai TV Channel 11 nationwide .

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 23 July 2007

[A_MIKE_U_LIKE]

..Was just reading about it in Guest house Net ..Thinking it looks like it hasn,t gone of ..And it just did Luckily i heard about this on the English version of Radio Thailand or i may of been a bit surprised

[fallingoffthemap]

I didn't notice anything.....

[NBT TV Phuket]

MiniVDO: Krabi tourism operators were pleased with Tsunami Evacuation Drill.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=214358

In Krabi province the tourists and people in tourism related businesses were pleased with the outcome of the tsunami evacuation drill and how the drill was carried out as they were looking into the efficient function of all the 12 towers. The Krabi Governor Mr. Siwa Sirisaowaluck visited and witnessed different locations where the warning towers were located. 8 towers are in Munag Krabi district comprising 6 in Ao Nang including Phi Phi, Nopparatara and 2 in Nuaklong and 2 in Lanta district. The Governor of Krabi says that this tsunami evacuation drill in Krabi was a success as all the towers proved to have worked well and that it should install tourists’ confidence in the region. On the local tourism side, Mr. Ithirit Kinglek, a local hotelier said that the overall picture of the drill today was satisfying as all authorities involved, that participated in the drill, were well prepared even if a low number of local residents and tourists participated in the actual drill, but what everyone in the area expected to see or hear was the efficiency of the warning system and sirens.