Quake warning rejected to protect tourism

[LivinLOS]

Warning rejected to protect tourism, Published on December 28, 2004 in Bangkok's independent newspaper The Nation.

http://nationmultimedia.com/2004/12/..._15908069.html

Minutes after the earthquake hit northern Sumatra at 7.58am on Sunday, officials of the Meteorological Department, who were at a seminar in Cha-am, convened an emergency meeting chaired by Supharerk Tansrirat-tanawong, director-general.

They had just learned that the Bangkok office had reported a quake measuring at 8.1 on the Richter scale, which was much lower than the level officially recorded later.

“We didn’t think there would be subsequent seismic waves, because a similar quake of 7.6 on the Richter scale, which hit Sumatra on November 2, 2002, did not affect Thailand,” said a member of the department who asked not to be named.

Moreover, the quake this time hit west of Sumatra and officials thought the island might offer a natural shelter, preventing any waves from breaking towards Phuket and its vicinity, he said.

With slightly less than one hour before the waves came ashore, Supharerk said, the department officials did not expect a tsunami. There are just four people on the department’s 900-person staff who are earthquake experts, he said. Also, a tsunami had not hit Thailand in more than 300 years.

But sources said they did discuss the likelihood that a tsunami could hit Thailand’s Andaman Sea coastal towns. This was also played down.

“The very important factor in making the decision was that it’s high [tourist] season and hotel rooms were nearly 100-per-cent full. If we issued a warning, which would have led to evacuation, [and if nothing happened], what would happen then? Business would be instantaneously affected. It would be beyond the Meteorological Department’s ability to handle. We could go under, if [the tsunami] didn’t come,” said a source who attended the meeting.

“We hesitated for a while whether we should issue a warning or not. It was discussed but we didn’t have a chance to do it.” Supharerk denied that tourism factored into the discussion at the 11th hour. “I think we have done our best,” he said.

Precisely at 9am that Sunday, waves as high as 3 to 10 metres hit the main southern coastal provinces of Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi and Ranong.

[LivinLOS]

Imagine the loss of face if they called an evac and it was safe.. Once again the fear of getting it wrong means inaction was the best course of action.. Just keep smiling !!!!

As a cynic pointed out on another forum.. If an evac had been called (and nothing happened) the primary losers (financially) would have been Thai / Chinese business owners.. Whereas no evac called and the primary losers (of life) are the indiginous Thai population..

[tbhotia]

This type of decision has not only cost lives in this Tsunami disaster but also in various other situation eg. 9/11.

[chickeee]

I don't know so excuse me for asking - do you know if there is a system for Tsunami warnings in your area? I guess alerts would go through the local media but at that time who would be listening to radio or TV?

[LivinLOS]

100's would have been saved with a 5 minute warning via loudspeakers...

One eyewitness report I have been told from Patong beach.. In the minutes before the wave hit, police radios all were squarking and they were on them, then they fled for thier motorbikes and without warning all scarpered.. I guess that was the warning... Women and Children, follow me...

Disturbingly I also saw them directly after the 2 waves (approx 12:30 or 1 PM) standing watching while people pilfered and went through anything that looked valuable down on Beach Rd. No attempt at stopping this looting at all.

Various emergency services have worked thier guts out but thats a couple of less than pleasing facts I noticed (but was reluctant to point out)..

[marc26]

i dont vare if my opinion offends anyone, i stated it before. the police were absolute useless. in one instance i know of a girl asking a policeman for info and he told her to go away. like i said before, the thai locals couldnt of been more generous and helpful, but the police were worthless!

[chickeee]

LOS I agree, evry bit helps, a few minutes warning could save a lot if they heard it . I thought you might have sirens up the hill , I wasn't sure if it would wake up people down by the beach . If there are loudspeakers there they should be used, that's for sure