Seven disaster-warning towers in Thailand's southern Krabi Province unexpectedly sounded an alarm simultaneously late Saturday, prompting residents and tourists to run for higher ground in fear of a tsunami.

 

It was later deemed faulty alarms and officials were investigating the cause.

 

Krabi disaster prevention and mitigation officer Thalerngsak Phuwayanapong was quoted by local news network The Nation as saying that he was informed that the warning towers at Phi Phi Island pier, Saladan Beach, Lanta Island, Jam Island, Yao Beach, Laem Sak Bay and Ao Leuk Bay sounded sirens and warning messages in five languages at 5 p.m. (1000 GMT), prompting locals and tourists to run for their lives.

 

The false alarm made the tourists, mostly foreigners, and local resident rushed for their lives. The districts which were hit by the mistaken tsunami alarms were all fell into chaos, local radio FM 100 said.

 

However, the National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) in central Nonthaburi Province said no earthquake occurred in the southern region that could trigger a tsunami and no officials pressed any buttons or sent signals to the towers.

 

Moreover, the seven towers were not yet connected to the NDWC, Thalerngsak said, adding that officials were checking what could cause such a problem.

 

Just three days ago, a full scale tsunami evacuation drill was successfully held in Thailand's six Andaman Sea coastal provinces, including Krabi. On December 26, 2004, all the six provinces were hit by the Boxing Day tsunami. More than 5,000 local residents and Thai and foreign holidaymakers lost their lives in the twin tidal waves.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 30, 2007)