Hundreds of frightened people fled Phang Nga's Ban Nam Khem community yesterday after news filtered through of a powerful earthquake off Sumatra.
Published on February 21, 2008
Without waiting for warnings from the authorities, they raced to higher ground or jumped aboard boats and headed for the relative safety of the ocean.
With the memory of the December 26, 2004 tsunami still fresh in their minds, panic swept through the community when the earthquake reports filtered through.
"We immediately ran to a safer place, bringing our children and grandchildren," Sompong Pumjan, 51, said. "No one heard the warning alarm go off, though."
A large number of tourists also sped away from the beach after TV and SMS news services reported that a 7.6-magnitude quake was registered off Sumatra.
On Boxing Day 2004, a powerful quake erupted near the Indonesian island and triggered deadly tidal forces.
The tsunami struck six southern provinces in Thailand, killing thousands of people, with Ban Nam Khem community being one of the worst hit.
In the face of yesterday's stampede, Phang Nga Governor Wichai Praisa-ngob sought to calm panicking people by urging them to stay alert and wait for instructions from the authorities.
"If evacuation is necessary, I will tell you," he said.
Shortly after the 7.6-magnitude quake was detected at 3.06pm, the National Disaster Warning Centre issued a tsunami alert for Phuket and five nearby provinces.
However, at about 4.40pm, the warning was lifted after information showed there was no tsunami heading to Thailand.
While no tidal wave came, many high-rise buildings in the country felt the tremors, including places in the South and as far away as the capital.
"The tremor was felt in Bangkok but this is not worrying," Mineral Resources Department director general Apichai Chvajarernpun said.
An office worker on Sathorn Road said she heard strange noises like wind banging hard on her window at around the time of the quake.
"No one paid attention. We continued with our work. There was no evacuation," she said. Her office was on the 34th floor of a high-rise building.
At the Phuket Municipality Office, an official said she felt the glass partition on the sixth floor shaking and some items dropping on the floor when the quake struck.
"Many of us were shocked. We left the building. After 15 minutes, we decided to go back to work," the official said.
The Nation
Discuss
Add this link to...
Tell a friend
Bury
Published on February 21, 2008
Without waiting for warnings from the authorities, they raced to higher ground or jumped aboard boats and headed for the relative safety of the ocean.
With the memory of the December 26, 2004 tsunami still fresh in their minds, panic swept through the community when the earthquake reports filtered through.
"We immediately ran to a safer place, bringing our children and grandchildren," Sompong Pumjan, 51, said. "No one heard the warning alarm go off, though."
A large number of tourists also sped away from the beach after TV and SMS news services reported that a 7.6-magnitude quake was registered off Sumatra.
On Boxing Day 2004, a powerful quake erupted near the Indonesian island and triggered deadly tidal forces.
The tsunami struck six southern provinces in Thailand, killing thousands of people, with Ban Nam Khem community being one of the worst hit.
In the face of yesterday's stampede, Phang Nga Governor Wichai Praisa-ngob sought to calm panicking people by urging them to stay alert and wait for instructions from the authorities.
"If evacuation is necessary, I will tell you," he said.
Shortly after the 7.6-magnitude quake was detected at 3.06pm, the National Disaster Warning Centre issued a tsunami alert for Phuket and five nearby provinces.
However, at about 4.40pm, the warning was lifted after information showed there was no tsunami heading to Thailand.
While no tidal wave came, many high-rise buildings in the country felt the tremors, including places in the South and as far away as the capital.
"The tremor was felt in Bangkok but this is not worrying," Mineral Resources Department director general Apichai Chvajarernpun said.
An office worker on Sathorn Road said she heard strange noises like wind banging hard on her window at around the time of the quake.
"No one paid attention. We continued with our work. There was no evacuation," she said. Her office was on the 34th floor of a high-rise building.
At the Phuket Municipality Office, an official said she felt the glass partition on the sixth floor shaking and some items dropping on the floor when the quake struck.
"Many of us were shocked. We left the building. After 15 minutes, we decided to go back to work," the official said.
The Nation
Discuss
Add this link to...
Tell a friend
Bury
ThailandBuzz is a web application that allows you to submit an article that will be reviewed by all and will be promoted, based on popularity, to the main page
abhisit vejjajiva
anupong paojinda
ayutthaya
bangkok
bangkok governor
bank of thailand
chamlong srimuang
chart thai
chiang mai
corruption
don mueang airport
galyani vadhana
government house
narathiwat
noppadon pattama
pad
pattani
people power party
people's alliance for democracy
phuket
ppp
preah vihear temple
princess galyani vadhana
samak
samak sundaravej
somchai
somchai wongsawat
stock exchange of thailand
suvarnabhumi airport
thai airways
thai boxers
thai politics
thai society
thailand
thais
thaksin
thaksin shinawatra
tot
yala
yongyuth tiyapairat
ไทยแลนด์บัซซ์ เวอร์ชั่นภาษาไทย
Comments