Further Progress On Phuket Disaster Evacuation

[george]

Further progress on Phuket disaster evacuation plans

PHUKET: -- Local officials in Thailand's southern resort province of Phuket are making rapid progress on disaster evacuation plans, with the designation of three evacuation areas near the resort area of the Kamala Beach.

With the December tsunami still fresh in the memories of Phuket residents, the 28 March earthquake in Indonesia, which sent tsunami warnings across Asia, served as a reminder of the urgent need for disaster warning systems.

Yesterday Mr. Satchaphol Thongsom, Kamala tambon administrative organization clerk, noted that careful planning had allowed for the successful evacuation of tourists and locals from the Kamala area on 28 March when the new tsunami warning proved false.

The Kamala tambon administrative organization has drawn up disaster evacuation plans, which include the designation of three areas to which people will be taken in any events of disaster - the back of the Nirvana Hotel, the back of Phuket Fantasy and the Kamala tambon administrative organization office.

Mr. Satchaphol also noted that the tambon administrative organization now had a range of warning equipment, and that as a result it had been able to ensure evacuation within 15 minutes of a warning being issued on 28 March.

The administrative organization is now establishing a community radio system to ensure that residents receive disaster warnings.

--TNA 2005-04-07