Photo: NBT World

 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra returned to the airwaves on May 4 with her programme "Empowering Thais with PM Paetongtarn," highlighting the government's steps to enhance disaster readiness following the recent collapse of the State Audit Office building in Bangkok triggered by the March 28 earthquake. The programme marked its comeback after a one-month hiatus due to the quake-related incident.

 

Addressing the nation, the Prime Minister announced an initiative to overhaul Thailand’s emergency alert system. She mandated the development of a new Cell Broadcast system, designed to rapidly send emergency alerts directly to mobile devices in affected areas, eliminating the delays associated with the current SMS-based system. The new system aims to streamline communication during emergencies and is set to be operational by July.

 

Amid ongoing investigations led by the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, the government is committed to auditing structural safety and compliance with regulations. The review, expected to conclude in 90 days, will inform future enhancements in construction supervision and emergency response strategies.

 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn emphasised equal support for all victims of the building collapse, irrespective of their nationality. Rescue operations are ongoing, with Bangkok officials managing safe recovery efforts for those missing and ensuring dignified restitution of remains to their families.

 

The tragedy has sparked concerns over the adequacy of building safety inspections and Thailand’s emergency response capabilities in natural disasters. In response, the government is prioritising the timely introduction of the new alert system and accelerating broader infrastructure improvements to strengthen national resilience against future calamities.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from NBT World 2025-05-05

 

 

It’s great to see the government taking immediate action after the earthquake and building collapse. The new Cell Broadcast system sounds like a solid step towards better emergency communication. Do you think it’ll be enough to prevent delays in future disasters, though?