Thai meteorologists play down aftershock threat

PHUKET: -- Local meteorologists have moved to allay public fears of another tsunami after an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale was recorded off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

A powerful tremor in the same area on 26 December triggered the tsunami that caused such death and devastation around the Indian Ocean, including in Thailand’s Andaman coast provinces of Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Trang, Ranong and Satun.

Vijit Phuangsombat, director of Thailand Southwestern Meteorology Department, said the aftershock was a normal event and would not cause another destructive sea surge.

Mr. Vijit, whose office covers the six tsunami-hit Thai provinces, also said more aftershocks would continue to be felt for some time.

''Today, at 9 am, we felt a small earthquake north of Sumatra Island, but it did not affect anyone. It will not trigger another tsunami and there is no need for people to worry,’’ the meteorologist said.

He said that while local fishermen should beware of strong winds if venturing far from the coast, the ocean would remain calm over the next few days.

Fishermen were continuing to be provided with up-to-date weather forecasts through radio broadcasts and data passed on to provincial offices of disaster prevention.

Mr. Vijit also predicted that better, high-tech earthquake monitoring equipment would be installed in the area soon.

--TNA 2005-01-10

Meteorological Department dismisses latest earthquake scare

BANGKOK: -- The national weather bureau today sought to allay the fears of a jittery public by stressing that the latest series of earthquakes off the coast of Sumatra in Indonesia posed no risk to Thailand.

In an official announcement this morning, the Meteorological Department said that it had assessed the latest earthquake situation, and could confirm that there were no earthquakes which could pose a threat to the country's southern Andaman provinces of Ranong, Phang-nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang or Satun.

The six provinces were unprecedentedly hit by tsunamis, caused by a strongest earthquake in Sumatra, on 26 December.

The department, which has been blamed for failing to issue a warning prior to last month’s tsunamis, urged the public not to believe every rumour of an earthquake threat.

--TNA 2005-01-11