Phuket delays tsunami drill due to ‘insensitive timing’
Officials in Phuket have cancelled plans for a full-scale tsunami drill that was scheduled to take place on Christmas Day.
It follows complaints by families of victims lost in the 2004 tsunami, who said it was insensitive to hold the drill just a day before the tragedy’s 10th anniversary.
"We have cancelled plans to hold the full-scale drill on Christmas Day after receiving feedback from the victims’ families, who feel that the drill will bring back bad memories," said Santhawat Riwleung, chief of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in Phuket.
"Governor Nisit Jansomwong understands that the timing of the drill is sensitive, so he has ordered it to be rescheduled," Santhawat told the Phuket Gazette.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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