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All Tsunami warning towers along Andaman coastal provinces will be tested out every Wednesday.

Starting today, May 6th, people who are in the range of audio coverage from the early Tsunami warning towers will hear national anthems twice a day every Wednesday. This is an effort to test out and make sure that warning towers, which were put in places in vulnerable locations, are functioning well. The Phuket Vice Governor Smith Palawatwichai requests hotel and tourism operators to keep their guests or clients informed of the practice so that they are not surprised or panicked. He explained that the test will even assure visitors of Thailand’s preparedness and efficiency in handling any warnings. Nineteen early warning towers are installed in Phuket. They are scattered in all vulnerable locations including isolated islands.

Andaman News NBT TV (VHF dial) at 8.30am & perhaps repeats on Phuket Cable TV channel 1 at 3.30pm, 7pm & 1am, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces & Mazz Radio FM108 at 7pm in Phuket, Wednesday 6 May 2009 & http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/ & www.YouTube.com/AndamanNews

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All early warning towers in Phuket were proved to be functioning well while the authorities are seeking cooperation from local hotels and businesses to link the system with theirs for more comprehensive outcomes.

Residents and passer-bys on Wednesday morning at 8 am and 6 pm could hear Thai national anthems from Tsunani warning towers situated at beaches across Phuket. That was the testing of the tower’s function by the National Disaster Warning Centre (NDWC) which carries out maintenance plans for the towers to ensure that they are all functioning efficiently. Witnessing the tests at Saphan Hin area yesterday morning were Phuket Vice Governor Smith Palawatwichai who said the operation ran smoothly and efficiently and that it should ensure residents and tourists of Thailand’s early warning system. Mr. Smith further stated that the provincial authority is urging more businesses and hotels to connect the system direct into their premises for more comprehensive operations. The NDWC and local authorities also plan an annual Tsunami evacuation drill, usually in July. As for the tests, the NDWC has sought cooperation from the provincial authorities to play Thai national anthem through all 19 warning towers in Phuket at 8 am and 6 pm every Wednesday.

Andaman News NBT TV (VHF dial) at 8.30am & perhaps repeats on Phuket Cable TV channel 1 at 3.30pm, 7pm & 1am, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces & Mazz Radio FM108 at 7pm in Phuket, Thursday 7 May 2009 & http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/ & www.YouTube.com/Andaman

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The testing of tsunami warning towers planned on every Wednesday is being delayed.

Following the announcement by the Phuket authority that the national disaster warning centre plans to play the national anthem via all 19 Tsunami warning towers across the island every Wednesday morning and early evening, starting from Wednesday May 6th, the plan was subsequently reported to have been delayed. The exercise is part of a maintenance program to make sure that the towers installed across the vulnerable locations are functioning well at all times. The provincial Chief of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation office Chotnarin Kerdsom told Andaman News that after the first test which went well at Saphan Hin in Phuket city, he was informed by the National Disaster Warning Center or NDWC that it delays the tests for other towers as it is in the process of reorganizing network stations and sub-stations of transmission.

Andaman News NBT TV (VHF dial) at 8.30am & perhaps repeats on Phuket Cable TV channel 1 at 3.30pm, 7pm & 1am, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces & Mazz Radio FM108 at 7pm in Phuket, Tuesday 12th May 2009 & http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/ & www.YouTube.com/AndamanNews