In a recent article published in the Phuket Gazette it was reported that the National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) has finally received the money from central government for 2 more tsunami warning buoys that will protect the towns and villages on the coast of the Andaman Sea. These will add to the 79 warning buoys the six southern provinces already have, with the tourist destination of Patong on the island of Phuket with three towers, although five have been requested.

The following is an edited version (for clarity and size) the original article can been found here.

The NDWC has finally received 165 million baht from the central government to install two more tsunami-warning buoys in the Andaman Sea. They will be installed by the middle of 2008, NDWC Director Dr Smith Dharmasaroja told a conference in Phuket City, held to simultaneously update a total of 77 key figures in the region.

Dr Smith confirmed that the budget was approved only the day before the seminar, on January 20 saying “The two buoys will be about 250 to 300 kilometers from Phuket, much closer to shore than the one already installed, which is about 1,000 kilometers from the coast. They will give us better and faster information than the old buoy; the Meteorological Department will be responsible for making sure they are functioning,”. He added “The buoys will confirm whether or not a tsunami is approaching, and will be critical in making the decision whether or not to issue a tsunami warning,”.

Dr Smith warned the conference though that, “We have to hurry because there have been many earthquakes in the region” and expressed concern about the system of warning towers throughout the six tsunami-affected provinces saying “Many areas still need more warning towers and some islands still do not have any warning towers at all….with Krabi, Phang Nga and Ranong provinces asking for more warning towers”. He went on to say that with only one tsunami shelter on Koh Phi Phi Don the number of tourists there in the high season wont have enough protection, if hit by another tsunami.

Phuket Gazette 23 January 2008