Bang Niew Dum reservoir unaffected by quake : deputy governor

Bang Niew Dum reservoir in Phuket's Thalang district is intact after a quake hit the province on Monday, Deputy Governor Somkiat Sangkaosuttirak said.

The reservoir, which has a capacity of 5 million cubic metres, was unaffected by the quake, he said.

He was speaking after leading a team to inspect the district on Tuesday after a 4.3 earthquake on the Richter scale hit the area Monday. Cracks of about 2-3 metres have been found on the walls of some local buildings.

Meanwhile Worawut Songyos, a Thalang district mayor, said residents reported damage to 33 homes from the quake. Local authorities in Sri Soontorn sub-district municipality inspected damages and have cooperated with district and provincial offices to channel added assistance.

The mayor said the area must still be monitored, for slippage has been found in some areas. His municipality has prepared temporary shelters in case of more serious impacts, he noted.

National Disaster Warning Centre director Group Capt Somsak Khaosuwan said five aftershocks followed Monday's earthquake, with three more Tuesday, including one at 3.1 on the Richter scale which was felt in several areas of Phuket province.

Capt Somsak said the centre was closely monitoring the situation following last week's major quakes in the vicinity of Sumatra.

He said the centre will warn the public immediately if a quake occurs.

"An earthquake is a natural disaster which we cannot predict but I am confident that a major quake will not strike Thailand," the centre director said.

Capt Somsak noted that the tremors this week were aftershocks of the April 11 earthquake in Indonesia.

He said the centre and the Department of Meteorology had already sent staff experts to Phuket while a special centre to monitor the earthquakes around the clock has been set up at Meteorological Department headquarters in Bangkok.

In a related development, National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) Secretary General Thakorn Tanthasit said the commission has asked telecommunication network providers, the Radio Amateur Society, and radio and television stations to be prepared to distribute news and warnings in times of crisis.

The NBTC move follows complaints of a failed communication network in the aftermath of last week quakes.

Thakorn said the commission is also seeking cooperation from radio amateurs nationwide to help distribute details of natural disasters.