Phuket residents seek answers over overnight warning siren
Residents across Phuket reported a repeated warning sound overnight, prompting calls for officials to investigate the alert system and inspect an offshore detection buoy.
Residents in several parts of Phuket reported hearing a repeated warning sound from about 11pm on 2 November until 2am on 3 November, although no emergency was reported.
The Phuket Times Facebook page said a high-pitched beep lasting about five seconds was heard in Phuket Town, Koh Sirey, Rassada Pier, Rawai, Patong and Kamala. A Phuket Town resident said the sound became more frequent around Koh Sirey, where it was heard about once every two minutes. Some residents elsewhere on the island reportedly did not hear it.
The report said a check found no earthquake in the sea near Phuket. Two or three undersea earthquakes, with reported magnitudes of 4.8 and 4.6, occurred in the Indian Ocean between about 1.30am and 2am. They were estimated to be 4,000 to 5,000 kilometres from Phuket and had no reported impact on Thailand. No tsunami was reported.
The Phuket Times suggested that heavy rain and lightning at the time might have interfered with the warning system, but said this had not been confirmed.
A Kamala resident told the media that the first warning caused people to panic and stay awake while following the news. The resident said Kamala’s experience of the 2004 tsunami had heightened local concern.
Residents called on officials to explain the alerts, inspect the offshore detection buoy near Phuket and assess whether the island’s warning system was ready for an emergency. Local authorities had not publicly responded or announced an investigation at the time of publication.
