Emergency preparedness exercise scheduled for Friday in specific parts of Thailand
Let's Spill the Beans on Thailand's Nationwide Disaster Alert Test
Hey there, folks! Looking to stay in the know about the latest happenings? Buckle up, 'cause we've got one heck of an update for you! The claws are out, and Thailand's cell broadcast disaster alert system is about to get tested across the country. Here's the lowdown on what's goin' down!
First off, mark your calendars for May 2, 2025. That's when the first small-scale test takes place. The testing grounds? The provincial halls in Chiang Rai, Ubon Ratchathani, Suphan Buri, and Songkhla, plus the Government Complex Chaeng Watthana (Buildings A & B) in Bangkok. Prepare to be annoyed (in a good way) by your phone, as it'll emit a deafening alert sound accompanied by a test message in Thai and English. Heads up, too, that the test zone will include areas within a stone's throw from these spots[2][3][4].
Next, put a note in your planner for May 7, 2025. It's another testing day, but this time, the focus is on Mueang districts in Lampang, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Surat Thani, and the Din Daeng district in Bangkok. And yep, you guessed it: your phone's gonna ring its alarm again at 1 PM[2][3][4].
But that's not all! There's a grand finale happening on May 13, 2025. This large-scale test plans to cover the entire provinces of Chiang Mai, Udon Thani, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Bangkok. Whether nearby areas get included or not is still TBA[2][3].
So, what's the big deal with these tests? The government's aiming to beef up Thailand's disaster response infrastructure in partnership with the Interior Ministry, the Digital Economy and Society Ministry, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission, the Public Relations Department, and telecom providers, including AIS, True, and National Telecom[5]. These tests are designed to ensure the system's ready to handle real emergencies[3].
Speaking of which, the government's whipped up these tests due to a not-so-fun past event. On March 28, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation failed to promptly alert people about a quake in Myanmar. Many peeps didn't receive the warning till over 10 hours later[5].
Well, there you have it, folks! Stay tuned for more updates and make sure to keep your phones handy during these test runs. Keep calm and carry on, and remember, a little annoyance now could save you from a real catastrophe in the future!
[2] https://www.thanatkhiri.com/th/23031[3] https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2073316/october-disaster-drill-to-test-nationwide-earthquake-alert[4] https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2074628/on-alert-thai- provinces-gear-up-for-earthquake-drill[5] https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30399076
- Over the following weeks, the tests will extend beyond Bangkok, reaching provinces such as Chiang Rai, Ubon Ratchathani, Suphan Buri, Songkhla, Lampang, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Surat Thani, and Din Daeng, as part of a general news story about Thailand's nationwide disaster alert system.
- As part of the mitigation efforts to improve the country's disaster response infrastructure, these tests involve cooperation between the government, the Interior Ministry, the Digital Economy and Society Ministry, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission, the Public Relations Department, and telecom providers like AIS, True, and National Telecom.
- The tests follow a political event where the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation was criticized for delaying the alert of an earthquake in Myanmar, which led to many people receiving the warning more than 10 hours late. These tests are intended to ensure the system can handle real emergencies effectively.
