Government guilty of flood negligence
Since Thailand is prone to flooding and has had to deal with the problem many, many times over the years, the government's lack of information dissemination on the current situation is utterly inexcusable.
In today’s connected world there are literally millions of people out there with the know-how to set up an emergency information centre that could keep the public continuously updated on this – or any other – disaster situation through the media, call centres and the Internet. That the Thai government does not have one already in place is nothing less than criminal. Thousands of lives and billions of baht could be saved with the establishment of such a programme.
It isn’t just Thailand, it’s a worldwide problem, as we learned during the Katrina disaster in New Orleans. Organisations such as the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii provide an excellent, competent example to follow for any and all disaster situations; its ability to warn and update the populace of the entire Pacific rim demonstrates what can be achieved through competent planning.
Any government that doesn’t take heed and set up this type of organisation immediately should be held accountable for all casualties incurred during future disasters.
Amelia Komlertkul
Bangkok
