Great Importance Attached to Disaster Preparedness

(23/04/2012)

The Government attaches great importance to disaster preparedness and has undertaken precautionary measures to handle emergency situations. The issue of disaster preparedness and measures to handle emergency situations has become a major topic of discussion in Thailand, following a recent series of tremors in the southern province of Phuket. The tremors came after the earthquake measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale struck on April 11 near the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake was followed by aftershocks measuring up to 8.8 on the Richter scale. This prompted the National Disaster Warning Center to issue a tsunami warning and an evacuation order for people located on the Andaman coast in the southern provinces of Satun, Trang, Krabi, Phuket, Phang-nga ,and Ranong to move to higher ground as a safety precaution. However, as the waves that eventually reached Thailand’s coast along the Andaman Sea proved to be rather small and did not cause any damage, the National Disaster Warning Center decided to lift its tsunami warning and evacuation order on the same day. Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyoot Wichaidit said that more seismographs should be installed and additional evacuation routes should be designated in the coastal provinces of Phuket, Phang-nga, Krabi, and Ranong. Public Health Minister Wittaya Buranasiri said that the authorities concerned had been instructed to draw up plans to deal with possible earthquakes. Emphasis is placed on three groups of provinces. The first group involves seven southern provinces, namely Krabi, Chumphon, Phang-nga, Phuket, Ranong, Songkhla, and Surat Thani. The second group comprises nine northern provinces, namely Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Tak, Nan, Phrae, Phayao, Lampang, and Lamphun. The third group consists of six provinces in the central region. They are Kanchanaburi Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, and Bangkok. Among the 22 provinces, some are considered earthquake-prone areas with fault lines. The Ministry of Public Health has instructed health officials to prepare rescue teams, medical supplies, and mobile hospitals. They have also been told to set up command centers responsible for taking care of and transferring patients. Regarding the aftershocks in Phuket, local residents have been urged not to panic, since the tremors were mild and would not cause serious damage. They were also asked not to believe a rumor posted on a social network predicting that Phuket would sink into the sea. The authorities are ready to provide assistance and inform and alert the public in case of emergency situations. Handbooks on earthquakes will be published and distributed to members of the public as part of disaster preparedness.