UPDATE: Within hours of DDPM Phuket Chief Mr Wichit confirming directly with The Phuket News that the tsunami drill in Kamala will be held on June 26, the Phuket branch of the Public Relations Department posted a notice confirming that the tsunami drill date had been changed to June 27.
The drill is part of Thailand’s national crisis management exercise for disasters, known as C-MEX 2025. The drill will also include a simulated anti-terrorism emergency response, although officials have yet to directly confirm final details regarding that operation.
Mr Wichit confirmed the new dates for the Kamala tsunami drill following a planning meeting held at Phuket Provincial Hall last Friday (June 13).
The exercise is part of a nationwide effort to assess and strengthen Thailand’s disaster response systems, testing everything from high-level policy coordination to on-the-ground operations. Phuket will conduct the drill simultaneously with five other Andaman coast provinces, explained an official report of the meeting.
“This is a vital step in preparing our province for potential large-scale disasters like tsunamis,” Mr Wichit said. “It’s also important to inform the public and tourists in Kamala not to panic, as this is only an exercise.”
The drill, originally planned for June 24-26, but now rescheduled to June 25–27, will focus on simulating real-life disaster scenarios across five key stations:
- Warning and Evacuation Station: Located at Rajaprajanugroh School 36 and ending at Kamala Kindergarten School. This segment will test evacuation route coordination, traffic control and shuttle transportation for residents and tourists.
- Search and Rescue Station: Based at Rajaprajanugroh School 6, this station will practice extraction and lifesaving procedures.
- Water and Aircraft Rescue Station: Located at Rajaprajanugroh School 36, this part of the exercise will involve marine vessels and aircraft in simulated sea rescues.
- Medical Station: A field hospital will be set up at Kamala Kindergarten School to treat mock casualties, including triage and emergency care.
- Shelter Management Station: Temporary shelter facilities will be established, offering utilities, food, water, and mental health services for displaced individuals.
A demonstration viewing area will be set up at Kamala Beach for observers and officials to monitor the operations. Public relations teams from NBT Phuket, Phuket Radio Thailand, and the provincial PR office are preparing information campaigns to keep residents informed and reduce unnecessary alarm.
The tsunami drill forms part of the national and provincial disaster prevention plans for 2022–2027 and 2021–2027, respectively. It also aims to improve inter-agency coordination, particularly between the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command Center, regional incident command centres, and local authorities.
Participants in the planning meeting last Friday included officers from the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command, Region 8 Police and various civil and disaster response agencies. Updates on previous preparation efforts were presented, with special emphasis on community engagement and communication.
Anti-Terrorism Simulation Expected
Although not yet formally confirmed by Phuket officials, the C-MEX 2025 exercise will reportedly include an anti-terrorism drill at the Phuket Municipal Office and Rajaprajanugroh School 36 in Kamala. This operation was also originally scheduled for June 23-27 but may be revised to align with the tsunami exercise from June 25-27.
According to a report by the Bangkok Post, the anti-terrorism component will involve a table-top simulation to evaluate legal frameworks, national policy implementation and readiness among security agencies.
Participating units are expected to include the Counter Terrorist Operations Center, Royal Thai Navy, Region 8 Police and various provincial security teams.
Phuket Vice Governor Suwit Phansengiam stressed the island’s vulnerability due to its role as the second-largest tourism economy in the country, said the Bangkok Post report.
“We cannot afford to be unprepared. A single event can disrupt tourism, endanger lives and destabilise national security,” he said at a recent meeting.
While public details on the anti-terrorism exercise remain limited, officials have reiterated the need for seamless coordination between civilian and military agencies to ensure rapid response capabilities during crises.
Authorities are urging the public to remain calm and cooperative during the drills, which are designed to strengthen resilience and readiness across all sectors of Thai society, an official report noted.