People urged to remain calm amid earthquake rumours

CHIANG MAI: -- The disaster prevention and mitigation office in Thailand's northern resort province of Chiang Mai has urged local residents to remain calm amid rumours that there might be an earthquake and caves-ins in the province on Saturday.

There have been rumours on the caves-ins in Jom Thong districts and adjacent areas, a chief disaster official, Phattharawan Sadudee, admitted on Thursday.

This has led to local residents having evacuated to other areas.

She dismissed the rumours as groundless, saying if there were any earthquake or caves-ins, local authorities must have informed the local residents.

She said, however, that areas where the earth was mainly limestone could be vulnerable to caves-in.

She dismissed fears that the caves-in could happen on a large scale.

Mrs. Phattharawan urged local residents to report any geographic irregularities, including abrupt emergence of fountains or turbid water in wells, to the local authorities.

The planned evacuation drill on 16 March will go ahead, which is postponed from 5 March.

--TNA 2005-03-11

There have been rumours on the caves-ins

She dismissed the rumours as groundless,

wonderful stuff.

The planned evacuation drill on 16 March will go ahead, which is postponed from 5 March.

How handy.

Good catch there taxexile