Tourists undeterred as tsunami sirens sound
Tourists in Patong stayed put while the tsunami sirens blared out during a tsunami drill across Phuket.
Although many tourists had been notified of the forthcoming drill by their hotels and guesthouses, many clearly hadn’t but still opted to remain sunbathing while the sirens sounded.
The exercise was held right across Thailand’s six Andaman provinces, where a total of 79 tsunami warning towers were set in operation by the National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC). Of the 79, 19 alone are positioned on Phuket’s main beaches.
One female tourist interviewed at Patong Beach said that she’d clearly heard the siren, but when she saw that no wave was approaching she decided to stay. Asked what she would do if indeed she did see a wave, she could give no answer.
Another tourist, from Kuwait, said he was notified by his hotel about the drill but felt perfectly safe in his ninth floor room, while another. Another tourist interviewed said he knew about the drill but couldn’t hear the siren.
The drill, controlled from the command centre in Saphan Hin, Phuket Town, lasted for two hours between 09:30 and 11:30.
The Vice-Governor of Phuket, Smith Palawatvichai said he was satisfied with Phuket’s part in the Andaman tsunami drill.