- Joined
- Mar 12, 2009
- Messages
- 13,160
- Points
- 0
Planet alignment raises tsunami fears
Evacuation drill held on Surat Thani island
Published: 12/06/2010 at 12:00 AM
<--- http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/38623/planet-alignment-raises-tsunami-fears
Reports that the alignment of the planets might cause a tsunami in Andaman coastal provinces have led to emergency evacuation drills being conducted on an island in Surat Thani.
About 150 people, including children, take part in an evacuation drill on Rad Island in Surat Thani. The drill was conducted yesterday amid speculation that the alignment of the planets could trigger a tsunami in the Andaman coastal provinces today. SUPAPONG CHAOLAN
The drill yesterday on Rad Island in Don Sak district, located 1km from the mainland, was organised by the National Disaster Warning Centre (NDWC), the Information and Communication Technology Ministry and local authorities.
Residents received training in communications and rescue and relief efforts in the event of a tsunami.
During the exercise, 150 residents took cover in the municipal office.
The drill also included practice search and rescue operations for passengers of capsized vessels using a helicopter and a police patrol boat.
Earlier, Kongpop U-yen, a Thai engineer who works at the US National Aeronatics and Space Administration (Nasa), said the alignment of the planets today could cause natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis.
NDWC chief Smith Dharmasarojana agreed with the forecast, saying it was backed by scientific data.
The forecast, however, met with criticism from the scientific community as authorities did not clarify the prediction.
Mr Smith recently said during a TV interview that a solar eclipse was due to occur on June 12 as a result of the alignment of the Earth, the moon and the sun.
He said the alignment would release considerable cumulative energy, which could affect the Earth. Mr Smith, quoting Mr Kongpop, said the phenomenon would have a direct impact on the Earth in the forms of climate disruption, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
As to which part of the world would be affected by the disasters, Mr Kongpop said that depended on the time the sun unleashed its energy.
It was hard to exactly locate the target area as the Earth revolved around the sun, he said.
Mr Smith said that Southeast Asia could be the first region to be affected if the planetary alignment, due to occur at 6.30pm local time, triggers natural disasters.
A 7.0-8.5 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale could occur, possibly causing a tsunami.
"The warning is something to consider, not to be panicked about. We cannot rely 100% on any theory," Mr Smith said. But he said he believed the predicted disaster might happen.
Evacuation drill held on Surat Thani island
Published: 12/06/2010 at 12:00 AM
<--- http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/38623/planet-alignment-raises-tsunami-fears
Reports that the alignment of the planets might cause a tsunami in Andaman coastal provinces have led to emergency evacuation drills being conducted on an island in Surat Thani.
About 150 people, including children, take part in an evacuation drill on Rad Island in Surat Thani. The drill was conducted yesterday amid speculation that the alignment of the planets could trigger a tsunami in the Andaman coastal provinces today. SUPAPONG CHAOLAN
The drill yesterday on Rad Island in Don Sak district, located 1km from the mainland, was organised by the National Disaster Warning Centre (NDWC), the Information and Communication Technology Ministry and local authorities.
Residents received training in communications and rescue and relief efforts in the event of a tsunami.
During the exercise, 150 residents took cover in the municipal office.
The drill also included practice search and rescue operations for passengers of capsized vessels using a helicopter and a police patrol boat.
Earlier, Kongpop U-yen, a Thai engineer who works at the US National Aeronatics and Space Administration (Nasa), said the alignment of the planets today could cause natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis.
NDWC chief Smith Dharmasarojana agreed with the forecast, saying it was backed by scientific data.
The forecast, however, met with criticism from the scientific community as authorities did not clarify the prediction.
Mr Smith recently said during a TV interview that a solar eclipse was due to occur on June 12 as a result of the alignment of the Earth, the moon and the sun.
He said the alignment would release considerable cumulative energy, which could affect the Earth. Mr Smith, quoting Mr Kongpop, said the phenomenon would have a direct impact on the Earth in the forms of climate disruption, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
As to which part of the world would be affected by the disasters, Mr Kongpop said that depended on the time the sun unleashed its energy.
It was hard to exactly locate the target area as the Earth revolved around the sun, he said.
Mr Smith said that Southeast Asia could be the first region to be affected if the planetary alignment, due to occur at 6.30pm local time, triggers natural disasters.
A 7.0-8.5 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale could occur, possibly causing a tsunami.
"The warning is something to consider, not to be panicked about. We cannot rely 100% on any theory," Mr Smith said. But he said he believed the predicted disaster might happen.
