Phuket Tsunami Sirens Fail To Sound In Test

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Phuket tsunami sirens fail to sound in test

PHUKET, Nov 26 (TNA) - Three tsunami warning towers set up at Patong beach in Thailand's famous southern resort province of Phuket have undergone initial tests, but their sirens failed to activate properly.

The trial run was carried out Friday morning in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop, who visited the province to inspect the progress of preparations for the first tsunami remembrance ceremony to be held from December 25-27.

Showcasing the tsunami alert towers along the Andaman coast will be part of the event, which will be attended by an expected total of over 10,000 Thai and foreign guests.

Friday's tests failed to impress spectators since the towers did not receive and transmit the warning signals from the National Disaster Warning Centre as it should.

Attributing this to technical difficulties, the deputy premier ordered an urgent improvement of coordination between the provincial alert tower management and the National Disaster Warning Centre.

He also directed Phuket Governor Udomsak Assawarangkura to speed up restoration of the Patong beach landscape for completion prior to the disaster memorial ceremony.

According to the government plan, a total of 62 tsunami alert towers will be established along the Andaman coast.

Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Suranand Vejjajiva earlier said that the warning system at all towers would undergo its first test on December 16, the day when a button would be pressed to set off the system as if the real thing is happening.

An overall budget of Bt38 million (US$950,000) has been set for the installation of the warning system along beaches in the country's six southern Andaman provinces of Phuket, Phang-nga, Krabi, Trang, Ranong,and Satun, which were devastated by the tsunami on December 26, 2004. (TNA)--E009

Last Update : 2005-11-26 / 05:55:47 (GMT+7:00)

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Clinton, Rice to attend 1st anniversary of tsunami

Published on Nov 25 , 2005

Former US president Bill Clinton and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will attend a ceremony to commemorate the first anniversary of tsunami tragedy in Phang Nga, the permanent secretary for the Culture Ministry said Friday.

Khunying Tipawadee Meksawan said Clinton and Rice would attend the ceremony at Haad Lek Beach in Phang Nga's Kholak National Park on December 26.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will chair the solemn ceremony at 4 pm.

Tipawadee said former US secretary of State Coli Powell would also attend the ceremony during which Thaksin would lay a stone with 38 points to commemorate the deaths of citizens from 38 countries.