PM orders damage evaluation in Phuket
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Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Tuesday instructed the interior minister to survey damage in Phuket following the 4.3-magnitude earthquake that struck the southern island resort yesterday afternoon.
The premier made her remarks this morning as she departed Bangkok for a three-day official visit to China at the invitation of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to strengthen bilateral relations and upgrade the strategic partnership and cooperation between the two countries.
The 4.3-magnitude quake hit Phuket's Thalang district on Monday, shaking high rise buildings in the province.
Yingluck said that she has instructed all relevant agencies to closely monitor the situation and ordered Interior Minister Yongyuth Vichaidit to inspect all structures and assess the damage.
Phuket has many old buildings and inspecting their strength is necessary, according to the prime minister.
Yingluck added that improvements to the natural disaster warning system will be made soon so that warnings reach the public immediately.
Regarding the failure of the telephone network during last week’s panic following a series of major quakes centred on Sumatra, Indonesia, Yingluck said she has assigned concerned officials to improve communications readiness in times of crisis and that this task should be carried out quickly.
