Phuket Tsunami Drill A Success: Suthep

[george]

Phuket tsunami drill a success: Suthep

The scene at Soi Bangla in Patong yesterday morning.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban.

PHUKET: -- Phuket’s tsunami warning towers sounded the alert yesterday morning, sending crowds running down Soi Bangla to the higher ground further inshore.

The exercise was all part of a full-scale tsunami warning and evacuation drill, which Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban pronounced a resounding success.

“This will help tourists trust our tsunami warning system and encourage them to return to Phuket,” he said.

Drills were conducted at 19 locations around Phuket, including Mai Khao, Nai Yang, Bangtao, Kamala, Patong, Kata, Karon, Kata Noi, Nai Harn, Rawai, Ao Por, Laem Tuk-kae, Saphan Hin, Chalong Bay, Ao Yon, Koh Lon and Koh Racha.

The exercise took place simultaneously across the Andaman region in Phuket, Phang Nga, Ranong, Krabi, Trang and Satun.

At Patong Beach, more than 2,000 local people and tourists took part.

The exercise was based on the hypothetical scenario that a massive earthquake of magnitude 8.8 struck near the Andaman Islands at 10:20am.

The National Disaster Warning Center issued a warning that a tsunami might strike the six Andaman coast provinces and warned residents and tourists to immediately evacuate to safe areas within 20 minutes.

In Patong, people at the beach ran up Soi Bangla, away from the sea.

Volunteers pretending to be frightened tourists climbed coconut trees and electricity polls, while others climbed up to get them down and send them to higher ground.

Other volunteers swimming in the sea were picked up by Royal Thai Navy helicopters and safely dropped off safely on shore.

One Canadian tourist told the Gazette he was impressed with the professionalism of those who took part.

“A tsunami could hit Thailand again, but Thailand seems well prepared with the warning system and evacuation plan,” he said.

“Lots of people took an interest and joined in the drill. It was just like a real situation,” Deputy Prime Minister Suthep said, adding that, “It wasn’t just government employees who took part. Everyone took the practice seriously. Everything went perfectly today.”

-- Phuket Gazette 2009-08-22

[mrsmith]

how can this be a success since the battery in the warning buoy is dead,and has not been replaced ,since no one can

decide who is responsible for replacing it???

[apetley]

Phuket tsunami drill a success: Suthep

“This will help tourists trust our tsunami warning system and encourage them to return to Phuket,” he said.

“A tsunami could hit Thailand again, but Thailand seems well prepared with the warning system and evacuation plan,” he said.

-- Phuket Gazette 2009-08-22

Yes, but the battery is still dead!!!!

Glad I live in Kanchanaburi.

Only have to worry about Srinakarin dam bursting here.

[jamesjdaly]

That reminds me of my teen years in Belfast when a bomb warning was phoned in to pubs. While everyone was running for the doors and fire escapes, we were round the tables hoovering down all the other punters' drinks!!! Risky, but cheap, evening.

[sunholidaysun1]

Lets see what happens if they did the same drill at 4am . I dont think they would have many people crawling out of their drunken stupors to attend , so you ?

[Ricardo]

One Canadian tourist told the Gazette he was impressed with the professionalism of those who took part.

“A tsunami could hit Thailand again, but Thailand seems well prepared with the warning system and evacuation plan,” he said.

Somehow you get the impression, that the authorities forgot to tell this trusting tourist, that they still haven't replaced that crucial battery, on the warning-buoy. No doubt the fault of some foreigner somewhere.

[Chunkton]

You are all missing the real point, it was a great photo op for the government and did what Thais do well, create an illusion.

OK so the warning bouy doesn't work as they couldn't be bothered to replace the battery, and yes even if a warning did occur many wouldn't pay any attention anyway, and yes this was staged. However foreigners may actually believe in reality it would be like this, everyone is a winner, assuming of course that another never comes.

[dale8]

Hello, it is better to try to prepare and remember what happened with the last big tsunami in 2004. Maybe if another tsunami comes not as many people will be killed as they know what to look for, but it is dark outside a long time so not as many people will be looking at the sea as the warning buoy should be of no help. This drill is better than not doing anything, and it is never the same when a real problem happens.

[caf]

the exercise tested the evacuation alarm system not the tsunami warning system as others have commented.

if there is a tsunami no alarms will sound

the evacuation alarm will sound only if activated by a human; no links to the warning systems installed by the americans as they have not been maintained.

what a dangerous disingenuos piece of propaganda. i hope tourist advisories report the actual facts

[Zpete]

Volunteers pretending to be frightened tourists climbed coconut trees and electricity polls, while others climbed up to get them down and send them to higher ground.

Really.......amazing voting during a tsunami.

Wunda wot the issue was.

[swifty5x5]

[foxxx]

so they can afford helicopters for a fake drill but not a boat to put in batteries into the real alert system?

[h90]

so they can afford helicopters for a fake drill but not a boat to put in batteries into the real alert system?

you must be new in Thailand if this is surprising you.....I think it is complete logic (I am too long here)

[Datsun240Z]

You are all missing the real point, it was a great photo op for the government and did what Thais do well, create an illusion.

OK so the warning bouy doesn't work as they couldn't be bothered to replace the battery, and yes even if a warning did occur many wouldn't pay any attention anyway, and yes this was staged. However foreigners may actually believe in reality it would be like this, everyone is a winner, assuming of course that another never comes.