Quake rumbles Thailand but Phuket stands firm
Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat reassured residents and tourists that the island remains untouched by the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that rocked Myanmar and sent tremors through Bangkok.
The quake, which struck Mandalay on Friday, March 28, was felt across northern Thailand, but Governor Sophon confirmed that Phuket, nearly 2,000 kilometres away, has seen no impact on its infrastructure or tourism industry.
While some residents at Phuket Provincial Hospital in Ratsada reported mild tremors, a thorough inspection of the island’s high-rise buildings, those over 23 metres tall, revealed no structural damage among the 300 or so on the island, said the governor.
“There is no tsunami threat to Phuket.”
Sophon added that the National Disaster Warning Centre and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation have been on high alert as a precaution but have found no cause for concern.
Tourists also appear unfazed, with daily arrivals on March 27-28 still hitting between 15,000 and 17,000. The Phuket Tourist Association and travel operators have been notified that the island is safe, ensuring the holiday hotspot remains open for business.
Phuket’s disaster preparedness remains a top priority, with 19 tsunami-warning towers in operation, two of which are undergoing repairs in Mai Khao. Government officials are also working on a mobile phone alert system for added safety.
Governor Sophon clarified that recent tsunami fears were unrelated to the Mandalay quake and stemmed instead from minor tremors in Banda Aceh, around 400 kilometres southwest of Phuket.
The most recent of these, a 5.3-magnitude quake in northern Sumatra, struck at 9.58am, yesterday, March 30.
Phuket’s vigilance comes with the painful memory of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which was triggered by a 9.1-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Sumatra.
The disaster claimed thousands of lives in Thailand, with Phuket among the hardest-hit areas. Since then, the island has significantly improved its early warning systems and emergency response measures to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
Governor Sophon urged the public to rely on official sources for information and avoid spreading unverified rumours that could spark unnecessary panic. With stringent disaster response measures in place, Phuket remains on high alert but firmly in control.
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