Tsunami warning app lands on Phuket shores

PHUKET: The National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) launched a mobile phone application this month that allows iPhone and Android phone users to receive instant notifications of any tsunami alerts and warnings issued by the center.

The “app” was launched on the online Apple App Store for iPhones and iPads on December 11, with an Android version launched on the Android Market on December 14, NDWC public relations officer Prasert Kunneang told the Phuket Gazette yesterday.

“This application is fully operational, but we are continually updating the code, so users need to maintain updates when they become available,” Mr Prasert said.

Once people have downloaded and installed the app, they will receive up-to-date notifications of natural disasters and phenomena around the world.

“After registering as users [via the ‘login’ in the app], people can specifically set which phenomena they want to receive notifications of, including earthquakes in the region and storms, as well as tsunami alerts and tsunami warnings issued by the NDWC,” Mr Prasert said.

“Users can also report natural disasters to us in real time by using the ‘Push to Talk’ function and selecting ‘Voice over IP [VOIP],” Mr Prasert explained.

“The application will help us to quickly broadcast news about natural disasters from the NDWC to users and help facilitate coordination between the NDWC and relevant disaster-response organizations,” he added.

Although the app is currently available in the Thai language only, Mr Prasert said that an English version is expected to be launched next month.

Installing the app is free.

— Orawin Narabal