The tsunami drill, held under the national ‘Crisis Management Exercise: C-MEX 25’, was led by the Ministry of Interior and focused on testing emergency response capabilities in Phuket.
Deputy Minister of the Interior Thirat Samretwanich, currently serving as Acting Minister of the Interior, presided over the closing ceremony at Ratchaprachanukroh School 36.
She was joined by key officials, including Phasakorn Boonnalak, Director-General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat, local government representatives from five other Andaman provinces and consular officials from nine countries.
The exercise focused on realistic tsunami scenarios specific to Phuket, with activities including evacuation drills, disaster warnings, search and rescue operations, the establishment of temporary shelters, and the deployment of high-tech response equipment such as KA-32 helicopters, high-speed boats, rescue drones, and simulated tsunami warning towers, explained an official report of the drill.
Ms Thirat highlighted the importance of regular drills in coastal areas like Phuket, saying, “Even though incidents may not happen often, we must never be complacent. We need to be fully prepared at all times to ensure the safety of our residents and tourists.”
DDPM Director-General Mr Phasakorn stressed that the exercise was a valuable opportunity to strengthen Thailand’s ability to manage future tsunami risks, especially in regions that still remember the devastation of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
The DDPM will now review the lessons learned from the exercise to improve local disaster response plans, update operational manuals and further develop province-specific strategies to ensure rapid and effective responses in the future, he added.
Ms Thirat also called for regular inspections of warning systems, equipment and personnel to maintain readiness in accordance with international standards. She thanked all agencies and participants for their cooperation and emphasized the government’s commitment to protecting lives under the principle of “leaving no one behind”.
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