The event coincides with preparations for the New Year Festival 2025 and commemorated National Disaster Prevention Day 2024.
As Governor, Mr Sophon is also Director of the Phuket Road Safety Operation Center and presided over the event.
The event attracted over 300 participants, including heads of government agencies, representatives from local organizations, private sector stakeholders, volunteers and members of the public.
The ceremony was also attended by Sopon Thongsai, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM Phuket), who emphasised the significance of disaster preparedness in his opening remarks.
The event aligns with the Thai Cabinet’s resolution designating December 26 as National Disaster Prevention Day “to honour the lives lost in the 2004 tsunami and to strengthen nationwide efforts in disaster readiness, prevention and risk reduction”, said an official report of the event.
To address road and marine safety during the New Year holidays, the Phuket Road Safety Center this year has extended the traditional ‘Seven Days of Danger’ campaign to 10 days.
This year’s campaign will start at midnight tonight and continue until midnight at the end of Jan 5.
The campaign this year is being held under the theme ‘Safe Driving, Accident-Free Thailand’.
Governor Sophon emphasized the importance of adhering to traffic laws, raising public awareness of safety practices and addressing key risk factors such as speeding, drunk driving and motorbike riders not wearing helmets.
He urged all sectors to work together to minimize accidents during the busy holiday season.