Thailands National Disaster Warning Centre has issued an evacuation order for residents and tourists along the Andaman coast after a huge earthquake struck off Indonesian Sumatra on Wednesday.

The quakes magnitude was 8.6, according to a revised measurement from the US Geological Survey, and it struck 431 kilometres off the Indonesian city of Banda Aceh. The tremor was felt as far as in Bangkok where office workers at several high-rise buildings said their workplaces were shaken for 3-5 minutes.

image 20120411180655A115B1B1 D170 C57C ACB332F4790F6946
The tremor was felt as far as in Bangkok where office workers at several high-rise buildings said their workplaces were shaken for 3-5 minutes.

Several southern provinces also felt the tremors.Thai disaster centre director Somsak Khaosuwan urged people along the sea in the Andaman coastal provinces of Phuket, Krabi, Phang-nga, Ranong, Trang and Satun to evacuate to higher ground.

Phuket International Airport was closed on Wednesday following the tsunami warning,  Airports of Thailand president Aniruth Thanomkulbutr said, adding that all flights have been cancelled since 4pm.Large numbers of foreign tourists and local residents in Phuket were seen rushing to higher ground for their safety.

Thailands Andaman Coastal provinces were hit by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami which killed around 5,400 people including foreigners and local residents. MCOT online news

via Thailand evacuates for possible tsunami after major quake off Indonesia.

About the author

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Get notified of our weekly selection of news

You May Also Like

Thai Chinese gang boss “Tuhao” charged with multiple offenses

Charges include illegal firearms and ammunition possession, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, operating an entertainment facility without a license and employing foreign nationals, working without a work authorization, and housing illegal immigrants, among other offenses.

Buoyant Songkran with $3.5B Record spending expected this year

Total spending by local and foreign revelers is anticipated to be around 125 billion baht (TCCU).