Failure of Thailand’s Tsunami Warning Systems
The government no longer maintains Tsunami warning equipment.
On 26 December 2004, while Western countries were celebrating Boxing Day, an undersea earthquake of magnitude 9.1 struck off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
This triggered a tsunami, a series of immense ocean waves reaching up to 800kph, which then reached Thailand. Wave height increases on approaching land. When the first trough of the wave arrives at the coast, the water recedes, and the shallow sea floor is laid bare.
Many people rushed from the now exposed shore towards the sea, which they thought was retreating. Minutes later, they saw high waves approaching them. Some escaped with their lives, some did not. Interestingly, animals, had already instinctively fled to higher ground.
Thailand no longer maintaining safety measures.
Just months after safety and warning equipment were donated by western countries, Thailand stopped maintaining battery-powered warning buoys. Signs showing directions for safe routes away from dangerous areas have disappeared. Pathways on those routes have become overgrown with tall weeds, been blocked, or obstructed. Most are now impassable.
