Thailand Accelerates Emergency Alert Overhaul Post-Earthquake

[snoop1130]

Photo courtesy of KhaoSod English

 

In response to the March 28 earthquake, Thailand's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has initiated a trial of a new Cell Broadcast alert system in Phuket. This move aims to upgrade the country's emergency alert infrastructure, addressing flaws exposed during the quake.

 

The new system, tested successfully on Android devices, offers real-time alerts minus the delays seen in the current SMS-based system. However, iOS device users are yet to benefit, as Apple has yet to support the system. A response from Apple is imminent within five days, and once approved, the system will extend to all platforms.

 

The earthquake underscored significant deficiencies in Thailand's existing alert protocol, reliant on traditional SMS notifications. These faced substantial delays and issues due to constraints like a max recipient cap of 200,000 and high mobile traffic during the disaster.

 

 

 

Acknowledging these shortcomings, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has directed a swift upgrade of the system. The new protocol allows key agencies, such as the Meteorological and Royal Irrigation Departments, to issue alerts directly, bypassing previous bureaucratic delays.

 

The Cell Broadcast Center contract was fortuitously signed on March 27, one day before the quake, prompting an executive order to expedite its implementation. Full deployment of the system is slated for July, with operational tests next month.

 

The urgency of this project is evident as Thailand prepares for future natural disasters, aiming to ensure that emergency alerts are delivered promptly to all citizens, overcoming past technical limitations, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-04-04

 

 

[Peabody]

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

This move aims to upgrade the country's emergency alert infrastructure, addressing flaws exposed during the quake

Why weren't these flaws discovered during regular testing?