Patong Alarm System Test ‘a Success’

[george]

Patong alarm system test ‘a success’

PHUKET CITY: -- The last of the alarms in Patong’s newly-installed emergency warning system was tested yesterday. It emitted a 121-decibel alert that could be heard 1,500 meters away.

The alarm at Phuket Cabana Hotel, connected to 24 loudspeakers, was tested for 10 minutes at 2pm yesterday afternoon.

Installation of the system, which will eventually be linked to the National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC), began on April 4.

Two other alarms, at the Seaview Patong Hotel and the Sunset Hotel, were tested on April 6, and April 8 and 9 respectively.

The Patong system has been installed by Bangkok-based Ele Sat Engineering, using communications equipment from Swedish company Kockum Sonics and an Inmarsat satellite system.

Patong Deputy Mayor Chairat Sukbal was present when the alarm was tested yesterday. He said he thought the system was working efficiently, but it would be re-tested when it was connected to the Nonthaburi-based National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC).

“Today we have triggered the alarm from the control tower here, but when the link to NDWC is complete, we will have to test it again,” said K. Chairat.

He added that he had had a meeting with the government-appointed tsunami tsar Smith Thammasaroj to discuss the details of the new system, such as what languages warnings would be given in and what kind of information would be given.

K. Chairat said, “The world-class alarm installed in the tourist provinces will give tourists confidence that they are safe when they are visiting us.

“We will follow up the installation by inviting Patong hoteliers and businesspeople to a briefing on procedures for evacuating each part of the town.”

Pat Neeley, Executive Director of Ele Sat Engineering Co Ltd, said he had been confident about yesterday’s trial, after the success of the test at the Seaview Hotel.

He continued, “This system is easy to maintain, and it can be monitored day and night – even via a laptop computer.”

--Phuket Gazette 2005-04-12

[astral]

Must have been deafening when close by.

Was that 10 minutes of continuous sound? Phew......

Is it better to die by drowning or live in a world where you cannot

hear what people are saying??

[devildog683]

its about time they get something like this, you learn from mistakes I guess

[ovenman]

Patong Deputy Mayor Chairat Sukbal was present when the alarm was tested yesterday. He said he thought the system was working efficiently, but it would be re-tested when it was connected to the Nonthaburi-based National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC).

“Today we have triggered the alarm from the control tower here, but when the link to NDWC is complete, we will have to test it again,” said K. Chairat.

Knowing how poorly things are often maintained in Thailand, it will be interesting to see whether this warning system is tested periodically after this initial setup.

[astral]

Read it in Thai Visa Forum today,

and in Bangkok Post tomorrow!!!!

[george]

Update: --

Thailand’s advance disaster-warning system installed "soon"

BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s advance earthquake-warning system will be completely installed by the end of next year, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Monday.

But the existing device is still effective, he added.

''Thailand will speed up the installation of the new warning system and it should be completed by the end of next year.” the prime minister told journalists on Monday.

“After all, major earthquakes do not occur often,'' he said.

Mr. Thaksin is proud of the fact that Thailand did not accepted foreign aid during the tsunami disaster last December.

The installation is now on progress, but tests and evacuation drills still need to be conducted, he said.

--TNA 2005-04-18