BANGKOK (AFP) - Thailand has said its tsunami early warning system is up and running in cooperation with the United States and neighboring countries as the kingdom prepares to mark the first anniversary of the December 26 disaster.

"The progress has been very satisfactory. We now have a working system in which we will be able to provide adequate warning for those who may be living in or visiting potentially dangerous areas," Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon said in an interview with AFP on Monday.

Since the tsunami, which killed nearly 5,400 people in Thailand, Kantathi said the government has been working closely with its neighbors and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii to develop an early warning system.

"We have an early warning center in Thailand. We will continue to upgrade that center. We are coordinating with our neighboring countries and also the center in Hawaii," he said.

The minister stressed it would take a few hours for any future waves to hit the country as there are no earthquake fault lines near Thailand.

"So there is a warning period by nature already. But the (warning) system will provide us with information. We will ensure safety," Kantathi said.

For the first anniversary of the tsunami, Thailand plans to spend up to 12 million dollars on events and accommodation. It expects at least 6,000 people -- 2,000 foreigners and 4,000 Thais -- to attend the commemorations along six southern beaches.

"We are hoping to invite immediate family members of those who unfortunately lost their lives and those who have been injured and have been hospitalized," the foreign minister said.

"What we are doing now is to restore all the facilities there and come up with the best early warning system that we can have and then we move ahead from there," he said.

AFP 2005-11-07

Does anyone know how often tsunamis have occured in Thailand in the past?....and thus what the odds are that this system will rust away to nothing without saving a single life?

Does anyone know how often tsunamis have occured in Thailand in the past?....and thus what the odds are that this system will rust away to nothing without saving a single life?

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All you want to know and more right here. Love the pics and charts.

Tsunami Web Link

I spoke with a friend last week who was adamant that Thailand knew about the last tsunami but chose to ignore the warnings. He is ex FBI.

It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. toxin doesn't give a toss about foreign tourists' lives.