Patong tsunami alarms to be tested
PATONG: The three existing tsunami warning towers along Patong beach will be tested between 10 am and 11:30 am on Friday this week.
The testing, to be conducted jointly by the Municipality and officials from the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Ministry, is aimed at ensuring that the towers’ direct satellite links to the Nonthaburi-based National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) are fully functional, allowing the NDWC to activate the alarm.
Installation of the three siren towers, which were donated by a German firm, was completed last April. They are located at the Phuket Cabana Hotel, near the Seaview Patong Hotel and atop the Sunset Beach Hotel. They were activated locally during a test conducted on April 29.
Patong Deputy Mayor Chairat Sukbal said that the Municipality could not specify just how long the sirens would sound during the test.
The Municipality began publicizing news of the upcoming test yesterday by radio and sound trucks. More than 1,000 fliers informing people of the event would be passed out along the beach road today and tomorrow, he added.
In a related story, Governor Udomsak Usawarangura announced that the province has signed a contract with Radance International to build nine more towers at beaches in the province. They will be paid for from the CEO Governor’s discretionary budget.
Six more towers will also be donated to the province by other organizations: two by television network iTV and four by the ITC Ministry, he said.
The province should have nine towers operational by November and all 18 ready by the tsunami anniversary on December 26, he added.
