Dear all,

There is a report of 8.9 richter earthquake north of Sumatra Island, Indonesia. The Thai National Disaster Warning Centre (NDWC) has issued a Tsunami warning. If you are in a place facing the Andaman Sea including Phuket, Krabi, Ao Nang, Phang Na and other resorts, you are advised to leave the beach front and evacuate to higher ground immediately and follow advice of local authorities.

On behalf of Asif Ahmad

British Ambassador to Thailand

Natural Disaster Warning chief expects tsunami to hit Phuket at 5.40pm with waves expected at more than 1m /TANN

Traffic congested in Phuket as locals scramble to safety at higher ground /TANN

Patong office - Department of Disaster Mitigation and Prevention has confirmed they have blocked road access into Patong as a precaution. /Phuket Gazette

RT @phuketgazette: Phuket Gazette has received independent reports of huge traffic tailback on Phra Baramee Rd which passes over Patong Hill

RT @vaitor: Contacts in Phuket saying "huge wave at the horizon coming very slowly"

Thailand evacuates for possible tsunami after major quake off Indonesia

BANGKOK, April 11 -- Thailand's National Disaster Warning Centre has issued an evacuation order for residents and tourists along the Andaman coast after a huge earthquake struck off Indonesian Sumatra on Wednesday.

Full story:

RT@PhuketLiveWire: There is no wave coming - but there is a sliver of sunshine on the horizon. I'm at my house in Patong, which has a full view of Patong Bay.

RT@bangkokpundit: ThaiPBS have expert from Chula Uni on now who states that the risk for Thailand of a tsunami is low compared with 2004, but need 2 monitor

Ranong gov: Thai-foreign tourists have evac to higher grounds after taunami warning issued for the province. /TANN

RT@MPOPPEL: UPDATE: Tsunami wave of 1.06M (3.5FT) above normal sea level recorded near Meulaboh in Indonesia

RT@tulsathit: RT @ACSBKK: Krabi, Trang and Ranong airports are operational due to their distance from the coastline. Phuket Airport is closed.

RT@mpoppel: BREAKING -- 6.1-magnitude aftershock hits 341 km (211 miles) SSW of Simeulue, Aceh

RT @tulsathit: Thai officials say they still maintain tsunami alert for southern Thailand.

Small tsunami reaches Thailand after huge quake

Bangkok, April 11, 2012 (AFP) - A small tsunami measuring 10 centimetres (four inches) reached Thailand's Andaman Coast on Wednesday after a massive earthquake off the coast of Indonesia, an official said.

"A 10-centimetre tsunami wave generated by the first earthquake hit Koh Miang off Phang Nga," the director of Thailand's National Disaster Warning Centre, Somsak Khaosuwan, said on Thai television.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-04-11

RT @phuketgazette: Tsunami-response team of Patong DDPM officers have been ordered to remain on standby until 8pm & to await further orders

ICT minister and Disaster Warning Center to give televised address to announce lifting of Tsunami warning via @SpringNews_TV /TANN

ThaiPBS is interviewing (live at 19:41) Prof. Pennung Warnitchai, seismologist at AIT:

"We strongly advise people to stay at higher ground until 21:30 as situation is not clear due to aftershocks and more waves could arrive, too early to predict right now".

RT@mpoppel: BREAKING NEWS -- Pacific Tsunami Warning Center cancels tsunami watch for ALL countries

RT@tulsathit: RT @ACSBKK: Thai National Dept of Disaster Prevention & Mitigation reports Tsunami Warning has been downgraded to Monitoring only.

Phuket Airport not likely to operate until tomorrow. Thai Airways and Air Asia passenger asked to contact their ticket office /ThaiPBS

BANGKOK FIRE: Looks like the fire is at sukhumvit 49/6 classic homes. Fire trucks just pulled in RT @Dany_k

to continue:

Thailand Live Thursday 12 Apr 2012