Patong “clear of tsunami wreckage’

PATONG: Wreckage caused by the tsunami has now been cleared from the streets of Patong and dumped in a disused tinmine, Phunsak Naksena, Chief Administration officer of Patong Municipality told the Gazette today.

“We have dumped all construction debris into a privately-owned tin mine,” said K. Phunsak. “Most car owners have already contacted their insurance companies to handle the disposal of their cars, and some vehicles have been cut up and sold fro scrap. We decided not to burn any of the debris because no one had any idea what was in it.”

Patong Municipality is due to meet with representatives of the Phuket branch of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) on Wednesday to discuss how the resort will progress in the medium and long term.

“This is our opportunity to clear the illegal buildings along the beachfront, and now we are waiting for the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s plan for what Patong should be like,” said K. Phunsak.

K. Phunsak added that he believes Patong’s water supply should be safe, as most homes are supplied from Bangwad Dam, far from the tsunami damage. He conceded, however, that many people are now drinking only bottled water.

One sign that Patong is getting back to normal would be the re-appearance of beach chairs and loungers on the beach, but the beach chairs will not return, said K. Phunsak, until the municipality has received instructions from the Ministry of Interior on how the locality should be zoned.

“In my opinion, the only beach chairs the ministry should allow on the beach are those made of plastic. I believe that a number of people died during the tsunami because they were hit by wooden beach chairs.

“Best of all, though, would be if there weren’t any sunbeds at all, if people used just cushions and beach umbrellas.”