Warning: Asia may see more quakes
Thai disaster agency says earth's fault lines are more active since 2004 tsunami
http://news.asiaone.com.sg/st/st_20070519_121393.html
May 19, 2007
The Straits Times
'Thailand's National Disaster Warning Centre (NDWC) has said people living near geological fault lines in Asia should be prepared for more earthquakes, as many fault zones had become more active following the huge quake that caused the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.' This warning came after powerful tremor occured in Laos that was felt around the region, causing much fear to the people. 'NDWC chairman Smith Dharmmasaroj said the Mae Chan fault, which caused the Laos earthquake on Wednesday, had become more active since the 2004 earthquake off Sumatra' and he 'urged people to take part in evacuation drills and to make sure their houses are strong enough to withstand an earthquake'. To deal with the possibility of more earthquakes, Meteorological Department director-general Suparerk Tansriratanawong said his department was planning to open 30 more earthquake-measuring stations by the end of the year. 'If earthquakes occur, we plan to alert people within five minutes through the mass media like television and radio,' he said.
The plan of opening earthquake-measuring stations would definitely help in informing the people about possible earthquakes that would happen and they would probably have the necessary time to evacuate from the danger site. Smith Dharmmasaroj is doing the right thing by urging the people to take part in eavcuation drills and making sure their houses are strong nough to withstand an earthquake. As a person of high authority, he is setting a very good example by encouraging the people and sets a standard for other leaders to follow. Moreover, people would probably listen to him as he is of a high authority and treat his words with respect.
However, there is a very important factor that Thailand has to consider when she builds these earthquake-measuring stations. Thailand is assuming that the people are aware of the danger of a possible natural disaster that would happpen in the future. However, in reality, many people are not actually aware of the danger. What the government has to do is to use various forms of advertisements, albeit brochures or even television advertisements, to INFORM the people about the danger. Only when the people are INFORMED, will this whole plan of opening earthquake-measuring stations to warn people about approaching earthquakes work.
Asia has experienced it's own share of natural disaster. An example would be the Boxing Day Tsunami that took away thousands of lives. However, if you remember there was a young girl who saw approaching waves from the far horizon. She remembered about learning this in school and knew that a catastrophe was about to happen - a tsunami was approaching. She quickly warned the people around and managed to save hundreds of lives. And why is this so? It is because of education, which is another key factor. Elementary schools in Thailand should educate students about this unavoidable predicament of earthquakes happening in the region and teach them about the things that would normally happen before earthquakes occur, this way they will be more INFORMED about this problem and spread the word to their family and relatives. Hence, when an earthquake really do occur, students and families would know what to do and evacuate to a safe place immediately.
In conclusion, I feel Thailand is doing a really good job in opening earthquake-measuring stations to warn the people. However, my main statement would be that they should focus more on the social aspect of the situation, which is INFORMING and EDUCATING the people about earthquakes and the dangers of it.
Be informed,
Be educated,
Be safe.
Thai disaster agency says earth's fault lines are more active since 2004 tsunami
http://news.asiaone.com.sg/st/st_20070519_121393.html
May 19, 2007
The Straits Times
'Thailand's National Disaster Warning Centre (NDWC) has said people living near geological fault lines in Asia should be prepared for more earthquakes, as many fault zones had become more active following the huge quake that caused the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.' This warning came after powerful tremor occured in Laos that was felt around the region, causing much fear to the people. 'NDWC chairman Smith Dharmmasaroj said the Mae Chan fault, which caused the Laos earthquake on Wednesday, had become more active since the 2004 earthquake off Sumatra' and he 'urged people to take part in evacuation drills and to make sure their houses are strong enough to withstand an earthquake'. To deal with the possibility of more earthquakes, Meteorological Department director-general Suparerk Tansriratanawong said his department was planning to open 30 more earthquake-measuring stations by the end of the year. 'If earthquakes occur, we plan to alert people within five minutes through the mass media like television and radio,' he said.
The plan of opening earthquake-measuring stations would definitely help in informing the people about possible earthquakes that would happen and they would probably have the necessary time to evacuate from the danger site. Smith Dharmmasaroj is doing the right thing by urging the people to take part in eavcuation drills and making sure their houses are strong nough to withstand an earthquake. As a person of high authority, he is setting a very good example by encouraging the people and sets a standard for other leaders to follow. Moreover, people would probably listen to him as he is of a high authority and treat his words with respect.
However, there is a very important factor that Thailand has to consider when she builds these earthquake-measuring stations. Thailand is assuming that the people are aware of the danger of a possible natural disaster that would happpen in the future. However, in reality, many people are not actually aware of the danger. What the government has to do is to use various forms of advertisements, albeit brochures or even television advertisements, to INFORM the people about the danger. Only when the people are INFORMED, will this whole plan of opening earthquake-measuring stations to warn people about approaching earthquakes work.
Asia has experienced it's own share of natural disaster. An example would be the Boxing Day Tsunami that took away thousands of lives. However, if you remember there was a young girl who saw approaching waves from the far horizon. She remembered about learning this in school and knew that a catastrophe was about to happen - a tsunami was approaching. She quickly warned the people around and managed to save hundreds of lives. And why is this so? It is because of education, which is another key factor. Elementary schools in Thailand should educate students about this unavoidable predicament of earthquakes happening in the region and teach them about the things that would normally happen before earthquakes occur, this way they will be more INFORMED about this problem and spread the word to their family and relatives. Hence, when an earthquake really do occur, students and families would know what to do and evacuate to a safe place immediately.
In conclusion, I feel Thailand is doing a really good job in opening earthquake-measuring stations to warn the people. However, my main statement would be that they should focus more on the social aspect of the situation, which is INFORMING and EDUCATING the people about earthquakes and the dangers of it.
Be informed,
Be educated,
Be safe.
posted by Marcus | 7:45 AM
2 Comments:
gd pt abt the thai people needing to be educated! good that u didn't just agree with the article but used it to talk about what the underlying problem is, which is a lack of awareness or sense of urgency.
however will schools be enough in educating people? what other methods can be used?
thanks xD
well the government can hold seminars for the adults to attend and gain knowledge. also as i said in my commentary, advertisement can be put up so the general public will all be informed.
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