Tsunami scare prompts call for Phuket beachfront hotels to provide evacuation safe zones

A stern Governor Chamroen ordered officials to ink MoUs with Phuket beachfront hotels to provide evacuation safe zones by the end of the month.

PHUKET: Following the tsunami scare triggered by the 7.9 Magnitude earthquake off Sumatra on Wednesday night, Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada is calling on all beachfront hotels to voluntarily provide emergency evacuation safe zones for all people in danger areas along Phuket’s coast.

“Before the end of this month, officials in all three districts will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with beachfront hotels of four storeys or higher to use as emergency evacuation areas for tourists and residents in case of tsunami.” Governor Chamroen said on Thursday (Mar 3).

“We must be ready to handle natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis at all times, not just when they happen,” Gov Chamroen said.

“The recent quake near Indonesia was about 1,463 kilometres from Phuket, which puts us at risk for any possible tsunami, so I want all our emergency stations to be on alert and examine their emergency equipment, especially the emergency warning system,” he added.

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/tsunami-scare-prompts-call-for-phuket-beachfront-hotels-to-provide-evacuation-safe-zones-56484.php