Thailand to hold Full Scale Tsunami Evacuation Drill

Thailand’s National Disaster Warning Centre together with 6 Andaman Coastal provinces of Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Ranong, Trang and Satun will carry out a full scale Tsunami Evacuation Drill with audio siren and information dissemination from 79 warning towers in all 6 provinces. The drill will take place on 25 July 2007 between 9.30 & 10.30am.

The chairman of the National Disaster Warning Centre, Dr. Smith Dhamasaroj, said the centre has sought out cooperation from all responsible agencies to inform the public and tourists of the full scale exercise. He also stressed that the drill will be the largest and most comprehensive in the Indian ocean rim and will be observed and witnessed by 40 international organizations to apply in their respective countries if it is proved to work well.

In Phuket, the local authority plans to run the drill to test out 17 warning towers in different locations across the island. The Phuket Chief of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office Arun Kerdsom detailed the locations as Patong, Kamala, Kata Noi, Kata Yai, Karon, Rawai, Nai Harn, Koh Lone, Koh Racha Yai, Ao Yon, Chalong bay, Nai Yang, Mai Khao, Bang Tao–Le Phang and Ao Por. Patong’s drill will be the centre of media coverage and televised live by Thai TV Channel 11.

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