Patong’s wave rave! Sirens to sound as tsunami drill hits beach strip

Tourists in bikinis and beach bums sipping cocktails in Patong got a surprise dose of civic duty this week, as town hall chiefs hit the streets to warn about a tsunami drill set to rock the resort next Tuesday.

Mayor Lalita Maneesri led the charge on Monday, July 21, flanked by councillors, civil defence bosses and hi-vis-clad disaster response teams. Their mission? To get the word out about a full-blown evacuation simulation due to take place on July 29.

“We’re not here to scare people, quite the opposite,” said Mayor Lalita. “Patong is one of Thailand’s busiest beaches. We want everyone, locals and tourists alike, to know exactly what to do if the worst happens.”

The campaign launched at the Sea Pearl Intersection on Thaweewong Road, with flyers dished out and drill routes explained to sun-seekers, shopkeepers and massage parlour workers.

The tsunami simulation will begin at 1pm on July 29, kicking off at Bangla Square, near the local police box on Patong Beach. When the sirens blare, participants will follow a marked escape route, darting up Bangla Road, weaving through Soi Saensabai, and ending in a designated safe zone in the nearby car park.

Officials pleaded with the public not to panic.

“It’s just a drill, nobody’s in danger,” stressed a disaster prevention officer. “But this could save lives one day.”

Motorists and pedestrians have been advised to steer clear of the area during the test, Phuket News reported.

The operation is part of a wider effort to boost Phuket’s disaster readiness, especially in low-lying tourist hotspots vulnerable to tsunamis.

Elsewhere on the island, getting from beach to bar just got easier. Phuket’s chaotic public transport network has been given a techie facelift thanks to a slick new digital platform — Phuket OneMap.

No app needed. Just whip out your phone and view live bus routes, stops and arrival times, all in real time.

“Phuket OneMap is a tool that helps everyone , tourists and locals alike, move around the island more easily and with confidence,” said a spokesperson for the Tourism Authority of Thailand.