Sirens given to 71 Thai villages for natural-disaster warning

RANONG, THAILAND, August 25 (TNA) - Authorities in Ranong province have presented a hand-operated disaster-warning siren to each of 71 high-risk villages in the southern Thai Andaman resort province. Ranong Governor Peerapat Hinmuangkao said Saturday that the sirens will be used to inform local people of latest developments when a natural-disaster strikes their neighbourhoods in order to ensure their safe and timely evacuation, if necessary. The move is part of a program jointly initiated by Ranong's provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office and the high-risk villages to enable local people to cope with disaster risks. Under the program, 71 villages at risk of natural-disaster are identified, with each given a siren for natural-disaster warning. Local villagers will also be empowered so that they can cope with natural disasters. According to the governor, the initiative is piloted in Baan Bang Non Nok village before expanding to other 70 selected villages. Meanwhile, people in several areas in the Thai South and North are facing severe drought, with, in a latest development, 67 villages in three districts of the southern Songkhla province, including, Kuanniang, Bangklam and Chana, having been declared drought-stricken disaster zones. (TNA)