“Too many mobile phones’ for tsunami SMS warning system
PHUKET CITY: Ministers and high-ranking officials are able receive a tsunami warning SMS from the National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) but other mobile phone users are not yet able to receive messages because of delays.
Dr Smith Thammasaroj, appointed to establish the NDWC, made his comments at a recent seminar held at the Phuket Royal City Hotel.
The seminar was attended by about 100 people from members of government agencies and telecommunications organizations from the six Thai provinces affected by the December 26 tsunami.
Dr Smith told the Gazette “The warning system is not totally ready. At the moment ministers and governors in the six provinces are able to receive messages from the NDWC. But for ‘normal’ mobile phone users the overall system is not ready.”
He added that there are too many mobile phone users in Thailand for the warning system to cover them, before saying that the SMS system will be completed ” … not later than the middle of next year”.
Dr Smith added that the Cabinet has already approved a budget of 150 million baht for the NDWC to install three warning buoys in the Andaman Sea.
