Phuket safe after tsunami warning

PHUKET: Provincial authorities are keeping a close eye on developments today, after a tsunami warning in Phuket last night following a 7.9 magnitude earthquake off Sumatra at 7:49pm [Phuket time].

The announcement, issued by the National Disaster Warning Center, was later cancelled, but local authorities have remained on high alert throughout the night and this morning to monitor the situation in case there are any aftershocks.

The warning prompted sea gypsies in Koh Sireh to move to higher ground, but for now things have returned to normal.

The earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra at a depth of 10 kilometers, putting the epicenter 1,463km southwest of Phuket.

Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada joined officials on duty overnight at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Phuket Office.

— Kongleaphy Keam