Phuket Governor Takes Action Against Rumourmongers

[jocko]

I've lived through 6.5+ magnitude earthquakes centered near where I was staying at the time...

What the heck are the Thais getting all worked up about over some pissy little temblors...

They have no clue what a real BIG earthquake would do to their lives.

You mean like the one in December 2004?

Ye where was our Soothsayer that day anyway lets get on to more important matters i wonder if he has any tips who is going to win the Champion's Cup , Premiership, When the baht is going to get weaker now that would be good info, i think he works down at Patong Beach on Monday and Friday i think i will jog down and see him before it's too late to get a bet on.

[PoodMaiDai]

I believe the guy who talked to the ghost. Betting it all that Phuket sinks on the 28th.

[cigar7]

All Phuket waitresses, hostesses and bar girls please come to Pattaya. We have lots of opportunities for you!!

[hawker9000]

...all you can do is laugh...

[diehard60]

Looking at the picture here, I would say that the buildings in the background are still standing, which in a way is a wonder. Yea know the way thjey are buitl. So I would not worry about a few after shocks. The villagers that say their homes have been damaged is probably true. They make them so cheap anyway. The governor I guess should be arrested also for rumors right?????

[LuckyLew]

It is just a ploy to increase tourism

Seems Mexico Honduras Belize Guatamala and El Salvador

are all currently using the same approach.

Read here ...

http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/apocalypse-now--or-later-.html

[GeorgeO]

Great such prompt a decisive action... shame he couldn't do the same for all the illegal activities going on down there.

Agreed. If rumours can prompt him into such immediate action, then how come an official delegation from numerous European consulates issuing formal complaints about scams, extortion and beatings of tourists has absolutely no impact whatsoever?

This seems to say a great deal about the general view on the welfare of foreigners (those who inject billions into the local economy) vs any minor issue that may have a slight impact on the local population.

[jalansanitwong]

So ongoing jet ski scams and taxi/tuk tuk intimidation is fine but spread a few harmless rumours and you could face a fine and imprisonment.

Remarkable.

"Please have confidence in the authorities"

The authorities make money out of scams whereas they make nothing out of rumours.A rumour is like a farang with no money. Get rid of it ASAP.

Edited April 21, 2012 by LivinginKata
quote repaired

[cheshiremusicman]

Strange but true! If you look on the Thai Met site under the info regarding natural disasters, it states that "Earthquakes are NOT predictable". Maybe somebody better tell their so called 'Expert' this, so that they can change the wording ASAP, otherwise somebody is going to loose face and we wouldn't want that would we?

[BigSkip]

"A rumour is like a farang with no money. Get rid of it ASAP!!" How True & Yet So SAD.............

Gotta Love It....................

Edited April 21, 2012 by BigSkip

[BOBBYTIN]

The Phuket Governor will step down if his Province sinks into the sea.... ??? Did I read that right?

you did indeed,he will resign,after all who wants to govern a stretch of water,though he could still charge tourists to anchor in glass bottom boats.

[BigSkip]

"Agreed. If rumours can prompt him into such immediate action, then how come an official delegation from numerous European consulates issuing formal complaints about scams, extortion and beatings of tourists has absolutely no impact whatsoever?

This seems to say a great deal about the general view on the welfare of foreigners (those who inject billions into the local economy) vs any minor issue that may have a slight impact on the local population."

A real mouth full!

[americaninbangkok]

I've lived through 6.5+ magnitude earthquakes centered near where I was staying at the time...

What the heck are the Thais getting all worked up about over some pissy little temblors...

They have no clue what a real BIG earthquake would do to their lives.

Sorry to have to say this, but minus 1.

[RichardSlack]

If it was just rumors then I would pay them no heed. As we all know there are always some nonsense rumors going around about some impending catastrophe. But now that the government is stepping in and saying that everything will be alright, I start to wonder.

[Rosco911]

The hub of earthquakes.

[webfact]

related

Thai experts confirm Phuket will never sink even if it is hit by a strong earthquake

Full story:

[blackthorn2005]

The Phuket Governor will step down if his Province sinks into the sea.... ??? Did I read that right?

What he said was "Tri said he was ready to give up his post if Phuket were to really disappear from the world by April 28", so maybe he knows something he is not sharing, I wonder where he will be on 28th?

I think all the hotels should double their prices for the influx of media and suicidal tourists who will arrive to see the end of Phuket

[TeddyFlyfisherDavis]

Best have a crackdown on earthquakes.

Agreed...Arrest the usual suspects.

[aWizz]

I've lived through 6.5+ magnitude earthquakes centered near where I was staying at the time...

What the heck are the Thais getting all worked up about over some pissy little temblors...

They have no clue what a real BIG earthquake would do to their lives.

You mean like the one in December 2004?

SPOT ON, Kananga!!!

[aWizz]

In a related development, Phuket MP Raywat Areerob said on Friday he submitted a letter to Deputy Prime Minister/Interior Minister Yongyuth Vichaidit, asking for a centre or an office in Phuket to inform and alert the public about earthquake-related updates.

-- TNA 2012-04-20

Hate to disagree when I'm basically agreeing with lots said on this topic but, my point; loads of people ARE believing "harmless rumours" and actually live in utter terror for what they don't understand, and yes they might but be 'common locals' not the 'Farangs pumping in the dough'...as such they have been taught to trust and not question the authorities and many of those in fear were actually here long before farangs stepped foot on this island, or else are rightfully calling Phuket their home... With 2004 still in fresh memory for the many, and now however small and insignificant the tremours, the islanders have never had them before. That there might finally be someone realising that centers need to be established to spread knowledge and stop the 'cry wolf' panic that haunts the island then that wouldn't be a day too soon! One could only wish that Thai officials would stop putting their foot in their mouths whenever they make nonsense statements and that they too would be subject for action when spreading panic...

[Ferangled]

I've lived through 6.5+ magnitude earthquakes centered near where I was staying at the time...

What the heck are the Thais getting all worked up about over some pissy little temblors...

They have no clue what a real BIG earthquake would do to their lives.

This post must take the prize for the most idiotic statement on this thread. Nice one TallGuyJohninBKK, your well thought out words and acute empathy for those that suffered in 2004 is a real heart warmer.

I guess you fail to realize that people are "getting all worked up" about a few "pissy little temblors" because they know only too well what a "real BIG earthquake would do to their lives".

Do you even try to furnish your limited intellect with the facts before spouting your BS? It's not just the "pissy little temblors", as you put it, it's the fact that this is happening at the same time as we are feeling the effects of "real BIG earthquakes" off Sumatra.

Try reading a few snippets, like these below, and tell us again how people are overreacting:

"The undersea earthquake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Wednesday was the largest earthquake of its type ever recorded and has increased the risk of more powerful quakes in the region"

"Before that we thought that 8.1 was as big as they get, but this 8.6 quake was phenomenal,"

"Wednesday's earthquake was likely to have increased the stress on the plate boundaries near Aceh, increasing the risks of another major earthquake in the same area as the 2004 disaster"

But I guess we would do better to ignore the people who have actually devoted their lives to the study of such matters, and trust in a loudmouth idiot who has "lived through 6.5+ magnitude earthquakes"....

[gilfhunter]

i think this is a bit of karma after all the years that the powers that be in phuket have been giving kickbacks to travel agents for sending people there.one friend of mine went to several travel agents in bangkok to get a ticket to samui,they all said the same thing,samui's flooded the ferries aren't running,no hotels etc,go to phuket better,then he phoned and told me this, we hadn't had rain for weeks the sun was out and the sea was like glass.i heard this same story many times.

i think they try this on everyone .. so all i can say is som naam naaaaaaaaaaa.

[erpan]

It was predicted long time ago(by monk i think and probably many others) that most of thailand (south) will be under water and also a 3rd of isan from what ive heard. Even a friend says phuket has more bad people in thailand than in other places, well i cant confirm that but ive heard it from others too.

Nevertheless what comes around goes around. And they are not the most honest people that are nice to all kind of people like farang for them we are only someone who they can get/take money from,not exactly what buddha taught. So im not suprised if they get some problem.

[SteveH]

And they are going to upgrade the airport, hope they finish it before the 28th

[oops]

Roumourmongers have it the Phuket Governor has Taken Action to book a ticket for Himself and Family out of the area on the 26th of April 2012.

For a good laugh just read the news.

NMy

[Beetlejuice]

And who are these phantom individuals who are predicting a major quake? Are they scientists, seismologists, professors or just some Joe Blogs predictor of doom?

There could be a lot facts in these rumours, depending on who or those that are spreading them.

So before I make any assumptions, first I would like to know the source of the warnings?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

This post must take the prize for the most idiotic statement on this thread. Nice one TallGuyJohninBKK, your well thought out words and acute empathy for those that suffered in 2004 is a real heart warmer.

You're missing the point, and completely mischaracterizing my comments above, which had absolutely nothing to do with the 2004 tsunami or the recent large quake in the Indonesian Ocean.

The post here and the topic was referring to the recent LOCAL 4+ magnitude quake and aftershocks epicentered around Phuket -- not the much larger one days before around Indonesia that triggered the [fortunately false] tsunami warning.

I was ONLY talking about local reaction to the LOCAL small quakes, which had nothing to do with the 2004 tsunami or the recent warning. Reading and understanding what you're reading is a handy skill. You might try doing that sometime.

Posted 2012-04-20 10:40:19

Fear of recurring earthquake stresses Phuket villagers

Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- A team of mental health professionals yesterday visited villagers at Srisoonthorn Moo 2 to provide counselling after the 4.3-Richter earthquake struck fear into their hearts on Monday.

Data from the Thai Meteorological Department has identified Thalang as the epicenter of Monday’s earthquake, with the villagers being rattled several times a day since by recurring aftershocks.

Leading the team was Surat Thani Mental Health Center Director Dr Weera Churujiporn and Suansaranrom Hospital (Surat Thani) Director Dr Pongkasem Kaimook, along with Vachira Phuket Hospital psychiatrist Dr Padtaree Pinkaew, doctors from Thalang Hospital and healthcare workers

Dr Pongkasem said the villagers were more scared of the local earthquake than they were of the major quakes that struck off northern Sumatra on April 11.

“The villagers were not directly affected by [the tsunami in ] 2004, but they have never before experienced an earthquake like they did on Monday,” said Dr Pongkasem.

“They feel unsafe and worry about the situation. Many of the villagers were so stressed that I prescribed them anti-stress pills,” he said.

http://www.thaivisa....ke#entry5239583

So I stand by my original point... Generally speaking, no need to get stressed about the 4+ quakes... But when the numbers get to 6 or 7 or more, that's the time to start stressing.

Edited April 22, 2012 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[RichardSlack]

I live in Thalang and can honestly say that I haven't felt on of these tremors. Just seen people panicking afterwards. I have spent a few years in Japan though so maybe I have become a little desensitized to little earth farts like 4.3s

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

The same folks who believe in ghosts and street corner fortunetellers and various other forms of superstition.

And in a country where the science minister believes putting a bunch of power boats in the Chao Phraya River is going to reduce the flooding in and around Bangkok.

Clearly, the end of the world is coming... The locals in Phuket clearly know this... The rest of us are the ones in the dark.

[silsburyhill]

Perhaps a coincidence but 28th is Gay Pride Day in Patong, where I read 'leaflets' warning of some disaster have been distributed.

Hmmm. Leaflets/homophobes/doomsday.

God botherers? Just sayin' ...