There are 23 provinces at risk of suffering damage from earthquakes, Charan Kwankaew, Assistant Chief of the Phuket Provincial office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM-Phuket), explained yesterday.
Phuket is located near the Klong Marui fault, which stretches across Phang Nga, and includes a fault line off Phuket’s east coast.
The exercise yesterday was predominantly a ‘Table Top Exercise: TTX’, Mr Charan reported, with the aim of officials at all levels in all three districts in Phuket following the guidelines under the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Plan 2021-2027.
The exercise conducted yesterday was one of 10 situations in the guidelines, Mr Charan explained.
The hypothetical situation was Phuket provincial officials being informed by the National Disaster Warning Center and the Meteorological Department that an earthquake occurred at the Klong Marui Fault at 10:30am. The hypothetical earthquake had a magnitude of 6.2 and struck 12 kilometres deep.
In response a response command centre was set up under the direction of the Phuket Governor, with all relevant agencies coordinating their response, including evacuations.
As part of the exercise yesterday, students at Ban Nam Yen School in Patong and students at Mueang Thalang School in Thalang were evacuated from the school buildings.
Phuket Vice Governor Anupap Rodkwan Yodrambam, who was briefed on the exercise yesterday, noted that conducting such drills was an important part of helping to protect people’s lives and property from natural disasters.