The Disaster Warning Centre issued an order for the people in the six provinces on the western coast of Thaland to evacuate to safe areas after an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.6 on the Richter scale rocked the western coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
It was initially reported at 8.9 and then downgraded. The order, following a warning from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, was aimed particularly at people in tourist provinces of Phuket, Krabi and Phangnga,which are high risk,to evacuate to high ground far away from the sea shore.
The other three provinces on the western coast are Satun, Trang and Songkhla, but they are at less risk. The massive earthquake was felt in many parts of Thailand including Bangkok.
Telephone signals were reported to have been disrupted in some areas. Smith Dhammasaroj, former chief of the Meteorological Department, said a tsunami could possibly hit the six provinces on the western coast this evening.
Somsak Khaosuwan, director of the National Disaster Warning Centre, said waves about one metre high would possibly reach Phuket about 5.40pm. For the sake of safety, people living along the western coastline are advised to evacuate immediately, he said. The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand insisted that the Egat dams remain strong following the strong earthquake.
It was initially reported at 8.9 and then downgraded. The order, following a warning from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, was aimed particularly at people in tourist provinces of Phuket, Krabi and Phangnga,which are high risk,to evacuate to high ground far away from the sea shore.
The other three provinces on the western coast are Satun, Trang and Songkhla, but they are at less risk. The massive earthquake was felt in many parts of Thailand including Bangkok.
Telephone signals were reported to have been disrupted in some areas. Smith Dhammasaroj, former chief of the Meteorological Department, said a tsunami could possibly hit the six provinces on the western coast this evening.
Somsak Khaosuwan, director of the National Disaster Warning Centre, said waves about one metre high would possibly reach Phuket about 5.40pm. For the sake of safety, people living along the western coastline are advised to evacuate immediately, he said. The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand insisted that the Egat dams remain strong following the strong earthquake.
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