A tsunami warning tower near Karong beach in Phuket (Photo by Thiti Wannamontha)Up to 80% of tsunami and disaster warning system equipment nationwide is now out of order, warns the deputy director-general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM). Apart from the warning system in the six provinces, mainly focused on tsunamis, there are also disaster warning systems in other parts of the country, focusing on different kinds of disasters, said Mr Kobchai. Suparaporn Jakmanon, acting director of the National Disaster Warning Centre, said 133 million baht has been allocated to take care of 3,067 disaster warning systems and related equipment. Meanwhile, Mr Kobchai said the department will use other channels to alert the public, including television and radio, sending information to authorities at provincial, district and local levels. Another factor is local people's trust in the warning system.

Source: Bangkok Post July 29, 2017 00:11 UTC