At a meeting held at Kamala Kindergarten School yesterday (May 14), Jamnong Sawatwong, Director of the Disaster Relief Center (DRR), chaired a session focused on the upcoming ‘Crisis Management Exercise 2025 (C-MEX 25)’.
Also in attendance were Wichit Sutthaso, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DDPM Phuket), and representatives from various government agencies, including the Royal Thai Navy, as well as from private organisations and community groups.
C-MEX 25, scheduled to take place June 23-26, will simulate a large-scale tsunami scenario at Kamala Beach.
The drill is part of a broader effort to test Thailand’s disaster response system at all levels ‒ from policy and planning to operational readiness ‒ and aims to improve coordination between agencies during emergencies, explained an official report of the meeting.
The event is being organised by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in collaboration with the Phuket Provincial Office, as part of Thailand’s commitment to its National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Plan (2022–2027) and the Phuket Provincial Plan (2021–2027), the report explained.
This year’s exercise holds special significance as it marks the 20th anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which devastated parts of Thailand’s Andaman coast, the report added.
As such, the drill will place extra emphasis on raising public awareness, strengthening preparedness, and reinforcing collaboration across sectors.
The training will include several key stations:
- Warning and Evacuation Station: Starting at Rajaprajanugroh School 36 and ending at Kamala Kindergarten School, featuring evacuation route planning, traffic management and shuttle services.
- Search and Rescue Station: Located at Rajaprajanugroh School 6.
- Water and Aircraft Rescue Station: Based at Rajaprajanugroh School 36, supported by marine vessels and aircraft.
- Medical Station: A field hospital at Kamala Kindergarten School to triage and treat simulated casualties.
- Shelter Management Station: Tents and support facilities for displaced persons, including utilities and mental health recovery activities.
- Demonstration Viewing Point: Set up at Kamala Beach for officials and observers to monitor operations.
A public relations plan is also being developed to ensure accurate communication with the public before, during and after the exercise, the official report noted.
The aim is to keep residents informed and engaged, reducing confusion and enhancing community participation.