Tsunami evacuation drills tomorrow

PHUKET: All residents of coastal areas should be reminded that the National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) tomorrow morning will conduct the first full-scale regional testing of its 79 tsunami warning sirens along the Andaman Coast, including 19 towers in Phuket.

Evacuation drills in tsunami-risk areas will be conducted by local administrative bodies working together with district offices and members of the local office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM-Phuket).

All people living in risk areas are encouraged to take part in the drills and proceed along the designated evacuation routes when the sirens sound about 9:15 am.

Those areas are as follows:

Muang District:

– Ao Yon and other parts of Wichit;

– Karon, Kata, and Kata Noi;

– Nai Harn, Rawai, Koh Lone and Koh Racha;

– Chalong Bay.

Thalang District:

– Nai Yang;

– Bang Tao and Ley Pang Beach;

– Mai Khao;

– Ao Por.

Kathu District:

– Kamala

– Patong.

The initial warning sound will resemble that of an air raid siren. It will be followed by other siren sounds as well as voice messages in Thai and English.

The drill will conclude about 10:30 am.

Evacuation drills in several locations in Phuket, including Patong, are expected to be broadcast on Thai TV Channel 11.

NDWC Director Dr Smith Dharmasaroja said foreign observers will observe the drills.

Noting that his agency faces budget restrictions and is limited to monitoring the evacuations from TV feeds and official reports, he asked both the media and the general public to assist in providing extra feedback about the success of the drills in their areas.

The Gazette encourages all readers to take part in and/or observe the drills and report on:

Did the sirens sound properly?

Over what approximate range were they audible?

Approximately how many people took part in the evacuation?

How many public officials took part?

Were the evacuation routes clearly marked?

Did the drill increase your confidence in the warning system?

Send your report, along with any digital photos, to: editor@phuketgazette.net

Be sure to specify from which area your report is based.