Thailand’s deputy transportation minister marked the seventh anniversary of the Asian tsunami with the opening of the Water Safety Transportation Center in Sriracha.
Kittisak Hatthasongkhrao and Chonburi Gov. Khomsan Ekachai toured the Samutkhet facility Dec. 26 and spoke about the need to prepare for and limit the damage from natural disasters. More than 5,300 people died in the tidal wave seven years ago that day.
Deputy Transportation Minister Kittisak Hatthasongkhrao talks to people gathered at Bali Hai pier about the importance of water safety.
Since then, Thailand has marked Dec. 26 as “National Disaster Prevention Day,” and has taken numerous steps to improve marine safety around the country, including the installation of a vessel traffic management system in the busy Laem Chabang Port.
With water again playing a major part in a national disaster – this year’s flooding – Kittisak said public officials need to work even hard to reassure citizens.
The Laem Chabang-Sriracha VTS and Maritime Security Center is responsible for the supervision of traffic and security of cargo ships entering and exiting Laem Chabang. It monitors all ships within 12 miles of shore around the clock.
Later, the deputy transportation minister and his entourage visited Bali Hai pier to remind people that water safety is a paramount concern.
