Phuket to set up three watch towers for disaster warnings

PHUKET: -- A better evacuation plan for local residents and watch tower to broadcast disaster warnings are now necessary in Phuket, according to the Governor of Thailand's southern resort province of Phuket, Udomsak Assawarangkulra.

Mr. Udomsak said that Phuket's immediate priority now is to install three watch towers at the popular Patong Beach which can broadcast disaster-warnings and give evacuation instructions to the public in the advent of any real disasters.

Drills would have to be conducted once these towers are in operation to ensure constant public awareness, he noted.

"The evacuation in the aftermath of the earthquake in Indonesia last Monday night went well. Residents and tourists in Phuket were evacuated to safe areas within half an hour after confirmations that the tremor on the Indonesian Nias Island in North Sumatra could also be felt in Phuket", he said.

"But I think that the communications system must still be improved, as the local mobile phone networks collapsed altogether shortly after the quake. Chaotic traffic and congestion also obstructed the flow of evacuation", he added.

These are lessons to be learnt on parts of government agencies and the local administration.

Improvements will be incorporated into a systematic plan for evacuation which Phuket intends to draw, according to the governor.

--TNA 2005-03-30

But I think that the communications system must still be improved, as the local mobile phone networks collapsed altogether shortly after the quake.

Please take note of this Mr Thaksin, it might be a bit of a major flaw in the developement plan for your early warning system.

But I think that the communications system must still be improved, as the local mobile phone networks collapsed altogether shortly after the quake.

Please take note of this Mr Thaksin, it might be a bit of a major flaw in the developement plan for your early warning system.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The worning SMS probably will be in Thai language only. Phuket Watch Tower will probably be borcasting the worning only in Thai... The tourists were't worned in the latest quake 'cause it was all in Thai. What was that means?

Golf

Edited March 30, 200521 yr by Golf

Just how many tourists bother to bring their mobile with them, and for those that do how will their telephones get triggered when the alarm goes out,(in Thai of course). Could this be another little flaw in the system?

Will they even be manned for more than a few weeks?

install three watch towers at the popular Patong Beach which can broadcast disaster-warnings and give evacuation instructions to the public in the advent of any real disasters.

What about all the other poor baastards that will drown in Kata, Karon,Kow-Lak etc. Taskin get to grips PLEASE

Right!!

Stupid government. Think of a way that can make EVERYONE even the man who sleeps in the cave know! And make sure they come in english, cantonese, shanghainese, mandarin, portuguese, german, french, dutch, japanese, korean and the list goes on............! Cos not everyone speaks thai!!!!!!!!!!!

see earlier posting

"phuket bans tsunami spirit ceremonies"

Same guy - therefore same comment.

meemiathai Posted Today, 2005-03-31 12:30:51

  Right!!

Stupid government. Think of a way that can make EVERYONE even the man who sleeps in the cave know! And make sure they come in english, cantonese, shanghainese, mandarin, portuguese, german, french, dutch, japanese, korean and the list goes on............!  Cos not everyone speaks thai!!!!!!!!!!!

Some type of Klaxon audio warning system could be the answer, so when it goes off all will hear it and regardless of their nationality will hopefully re-act.

Then again Ole Taksin doesn't own shares in that system, so he will not benefit from it in the same way as using his telephone system would.

I would also like an answer re: my first point, the collapse of the mobile telephone system immediately after the quake, as this is an integral part of his plan to get the warning "out there", whether it be in thai or in any other language.

Is your government going to address this issue or just blindly follow the Leader as appears to be the norm!

You were right "stupid government" if they are going to set up a system let them think things through properly, with thoughts to getting the message across to all to minimise the loss of life to all nationalities, after all it was not just Thai's that died in Phuket, Phi-Phi etc.

Who gets to be the poor bastards that have to sit in the towers? (swept away comes to mind)

You could puy a tower at each end of the beach, on the hilltops. I'm sure the owners of Bann Rim Pa would not mind their view being spoiled for this good cause.