Thai Experts Confirm Phuket Will Never Sink Even If It Is Hit By A Strong Earthquake

[webfact]

Experts confirm Phuket will never sink

BANGKOK, 21 April 2012 – Experts have come out to assure the public that Phuket will never sink even if it is hit by a strong earthquake.

Department of Mineral Resources Director Lertsin Raksakulwong said that the public should not worry about the possible sinking of Phuket for its earth structure is made of granite, unlike the case of Krakatoa in Indonesia, a volcanic island that is made of lava.

Regarding the aftershock measured at magnitude 3.3 in the Richter scale in Phuket on Friday, Mr. Lertsin said that such a tremor is considered moderate and has not caused any damage.

He added that a series of aftershocks still continued in Phuket because of the active shifting of plates around the fault lines, which is expected to carry on for another week or so.

Meanwhile, the latest inspection trip by the ICT Ministry Inspector-General in Phuket found that some warning towers could not function properly and are to receive maintenance service within one week.

Phuket Governor Tree Akharadecha is another official who has come out to assure that the Phuket will not sink while asking the public not to believe in rumors about such speculations, currently spreading on online social network.

Reporters said that the general atmosphere in this popular tourist island remains normal and the tourism industry is still business as usual, with foreign visitor number rising by more than 10 percent.

-- NNT 2012-04-21

[webfact]

RT @mpoppel: BREAKING -- 6.8-magnitude earthquake s trikes off the north coast of Papua, Indonesia

RT @mpoppel: Indonesian seismological agency says no tsunami warning issued following 6.8 quake

RT @mpoppel: 5.7-magnitude aftershock hits after quake in eastern Indonesia

RT @mpoppel: USGS puts magnitude of quake in eastern Indonesia at 6.6; Indonesian center puts magnitude at 6.8

[seaeagle]

Maybe it was some ancestors of these Thai experts that managed to wangle themselves onto the board of The White Star Line to similarly announce that the Titanic wouldn't sink either.

[stevenl]

Maybe it was some ancestors of these Thai experts that managed to wangle themselves onto the board of The White Star Line to similarly announce that the Titanic wouldn't sink either.

What a ridiculous comment.

[waza]

explode sure but sink, no way Edited April 21, 2012 by waza

[konfuzed]

Really. I thought Phuket floated because of an engineering marvel and each earthquake made air escape from under it so it was going to sink.

I didnt realize it was a rock attached to the earth and couldn't sink.

[Honkytowner]

"Experts* confirm...." Time to sell up and move out then!

* Expert [def.]: Ex- = has been; spurt = a drip under pressure.

Edited April 21, 2012 by Honkytowner

[arrowsdawdle]

Really. I thought Phuket floated because of an engineering marvel and each earthquake made air escape from under it so it was going to sink.

I didnt realize it was a rock attached to the earth and couldn't sink.

RE: Phuket being granite and not sinking like lava Krakatoa analogy, put lava rock and granite in water and watch what happens. Lava is the only rock that floats.

RE: Will not sink, wink-wink, anybody have a map where the line will be, maybe up around Chumpon? Watch for plans for a new town called Otisville.

[Basil B]

With my faith in Thai Experts...

May be it is time for every hotel to fit lifeboats?

[klauskunkel]

Now that the experts confirmed it, better start preparing...notice, they never vowed!

[ThaiTerry]

Really. I thought Phuket floated because of an engineering marvel and each earthquake made air escape from under it so it was going to sink.

I didnt realize it was a rock attached to the earth and couldn't sink.

RE: Phuket being granite and not sinking like lava Krakatoa analogy, put lava rock and granite in water and watch what happens. Lava is the only rock that floats.

RE: Will not sink, wink-wink, anybody have a map where the line will be, maybe up around Chumpon? Watch for plans for a new town called Otisville.

Sorry to sink your theory but lava and granite are both igneous (volcanic) rocks and both sink. The only rock I know of that will float is another igneous rock known as pumice due to the amount of air bubbles trapped inside when it was formed. Krakatoa did not sink but lost two thirds of its mass when the volcano on the island exploded.

[ThaiBurger]

Really. I thought Phuket floated because of an engineering marvel and each earthquake made air escape from under it so it was going to sink.

I didnt realize it was a rock attached to the earth and couldn't sink.

LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love it !

This one made me laugh out loud a few times. (because i get the sarcasm)

[Jingjok]

That anyone could contemplate that a substantial granite island might instantly ‘sink’ like some ship floating on an ocean, requiring a fault slip of hundreds of metres demonstrates almost unbelievable ignorance. (In deep time, sure: all land masses change, but we're talking hundreds of millions of years.)

This is the kind of rubbish people believed in medieval times, before modern scientific understanding. Utterly pathetic.

(And please watch it with the satirical jokes chaps, some people might take them seriously.)

I have a house at Surin beach. I’m not in the slightest bothered.

Cheers, Mark.

Geology graduate and FGS (Fellow of the Geological Society, London).

Edited April 21, 2012 by Jingjok

[anterian]

Really. I thought Phuket floated because of an engineering marvel and each earthquake made air escape from under it so it was going to sink.

I didnt realize it was a rock attached to the earth and couldn't sink.

RE: Phuket being granite and not sinking like lava Krakatoa analogy, put lava rock and granite in water and watch what happens. Lava is the only rock that floats.

RE: Will not sink, wink-wink, anybody have a map where the line will be, maybe up around Chumpon? Watch for plans for a new town called Otisville.

Sorry to sink your theory but lava and granite are both igneous (volcanic) rocks and both sink. The only rock I know of that will float is another igneous rock known as pumice due to the amount of air bubbles trapped inside when it was formed. Krakatoa did not sink but lost two thirds of its mass when the volcano on the island exploded.

If I might add to this, granite is a common widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Intrusive means it tends to rise up through faults.

[belg]

if it really sinks, it is just back to pirates of the south china sea... the original inhabitants of phuket are pirates, that is why there is a jetski, tuk tuk maffia and will always be

and if the island sinks, they can copy somalia and start to seize boats, steal and rob of the sea

phuket, hub of pirates, should attrack some tourists ?

[creck]

Maybe it was some ancestors of these Thai experts that managed to wangle themselves onto the board of The White Star Line to similarly announce that the Titanic wouldn't sink either.

What a ridiculous comment.

My dicionary says that Ridiculous can mean: comical, funny hilarious...

I think the connection is indeed there and is comical, funny hilarious...

so OK both of you

[astral]

When did Krakatoa sink????????????

It exploded in 1883 with catastrophic consequences for the area, but did not sink.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1883_eruption_of_Krakatoa

So much for Thai experts.

[tragickingdom]

If it were really Thai experts, Phuket will soon be Atlantis.

[how241]

With my faith in Thai Experts...

May be it is time for every hotel to fit lifeboats?

Good one. Made me laugh.

[Greer]

That anyone could contemplate that a substantial granite island might instantly ‘sink’ like some ship floating on an ocean, requiring a fault slip of hundreds of metres demonstrates almost unbelievable ignorance. (In deep time, sure: all land masses change, but we're talking hundreds of millions of years.)

This is the kind of rubbish people believed in medieval times, before modern scientific understanding. Utterly pathetic...................

Cheers, Mark.

Geology graduate and FGS (Fellow of the Geological Society, London).

Thanks Mark - at last an intelligent comment. What idiot came up with the original idea that Phuket would, or could, "sink" anyway? Good grief!

Regarding the quoted figures relating to Papua, Indonesia - that is the large island just north of Australia which used to be called Papua New Guinea, and is over 3000 kilometres east south east of Thailand. If they meant Pulau We, that is on the tip of Sumatra - but I dont think that was the area referenced.

[JSPS]

According to U.S. Congressman Hank Johnson there is the possibility that too many people on Guam might make that Island tip over.

Do you suppose that might happen if there was an emergency and people rushed to one side of the island here?

(Yes, I do find that frightening stupid people is quite enjoyable. Why do you ask?)

[Lite Beer]

Phuket to be 'Atlantis of the East'? Not on Gov Tri’s watch

Phuket Gazette –

Phuket’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation office chief Wiroj Suwanwong files a complaint with Phuket City Police duty officer Capt Chaleaw Taihu. The governor hopes the complaint will spur an investigation into who instigated "doomsday" rumors that have been circulating recently. Photo by Kritsada Mueanhawong.

PHUKET: In the face of widespread rumors of Phuket becoming the "Atlantis of the East", Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha has jokingly declared that he would be happy to resign his position if the island sinks into the Andaman Sea.

“Rumors are rumors,” Gov Tri said. “I don’t think Phuket will sink. In fact, I’ll stake my position as a guarantee. If it happens, I will be happy to resign as governor.”

On a more serious note, Gov Tri's office has filed a police complaint against any individuals found to have created doomsday warning leaflets or posting internet claims that Phuket will be destroyed by a natural disaster on April 28.

The complaint was filed at Phuket City Police Station by Wiroj Suwanwong, chief of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation office in Phuket Town.

Any person convicted of spreading rumors or disinformation that cause people to panic is in violation of Article 384 of the Criminal Code and can face up to one month in prison, a 1,000 baht fine, or both.

Gov Tri said he was concerned that the doomsday prediction had damaged Phuket’s reputation.

“These rumors have caused panic among the people who live in Phuket and it is bad for Phuket’s image,” he added.

Gov Tri also briefly spoke about the need to help people whose houses were damaged in the recent quakes to regain their confidence.

“I will try to get the budget to fix the homes as soon as possible,” he said.

“To educate Phuket residents, I also will have a handbook produced on what to do in the event of a major earthquake,” he said.

“Earthquakes are a relatively new phenomena for Phuket, much like the tsunami was in 2004,” he added.

However, he does not want Phuket to be left unprepared in the event that a serious quake does hit.

He plans to invite earthquake specialists from Japan to Phuket to educate business owners and community leaders, preparing them for the possibility and how to react in such an event, he added.

Five earthquakes, all with epicenters in Thalang, were recorded yesterday.

Thus far today no tremors have been reported by the Thai Meteorological Department, which recently set up sensors in three locations in the district and is monitoring the situation carefully.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/archives/articles/2012/article12847.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-04-22

[arrowsdawdle]

Really. I thought Phuket floated because of an engineering marvel and each earthquake made air escape from under it so it was going to sink.

I didnt realize it was a rock attached to the earth and couldn't sink.

RE: Phuket being granite and not sinking like lava Krakatoa analogy, put lava rock and granite in water and watch what happens. Lava is the only rock that floats.

RE: Will not sink, wink-wink, anybody have a map where the line will be, maybe up around Chumpon? Watch for plans for a new town called Otisville.

Sorry to sink your theory but lava and granite are both igneous (volcanic) rocks and both sink. The only rock I know of that will float is another igneous rock known as pumice due to the amount of air bubbles trapped inside when it was formed. Krakatoa did not sink but lost two thirds of its mass when the volcano on the island exploded.

No sorry needed, you support what was written but just don't know it. Pumice comes from magma and cools to a stone-like substance often called lava rock at least in Hawaii where they have active volcanoes. Indeed it can float. As for the Krakatoa sinking analogy, that issue would have to be taken up with the OP since that is where it is stated.

[Fgis]

We believe Thai experts 100% !!!

What I am sure about is that I would never invest 1 baht at Phuket and would never live there !

[Shot]

According to U.S. Congressman Hank Johnson there is the possibility that too many people on Guam might make that Island tip over.

Do you suppose that might happen if there was an emergency and people rushed to one side of the island here?

(Yes, I do find that frightening stupid people is quite enjoyable. Why do you ask?)

Just in case someone has not seen Mr. Johnson in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jhx32l94kek&feature=related

[timewilltell]

Thai experts: the blind leading the blind.

Phuket won't sink, might be affected by rising sea levels and will fail as a result of corruption leading to the destruction of its natural beauty and tourist industry for that and a multitude of other reasons, much like Benidorm

[Felt 35]

Sink, sunk, ruined. The experts worry too late.