China News Service, November 4. According to the WeChat public account of the "Chinese Consulate General in Songkhla", due to the continuous heavy rainfall, natural disasters such as waterlogging, flash floods, landslides and mudslides have occurred in Phuket Province and other places since late October, posing safety risks to local residents and tourists. According to the latest weather forecast released by the National Meteorological Administration of Thailand on November 3, heavy to heavy rains are expected in southern Thailand, and some areas may still face the risk of sudden natural disasters.
In order to effectively protect the life and property safety of Chinese citizens in southern Thailand, the Consulate General in Songkhla reminds Chinese citizens in southern Thailand and those who plan to travel to southern Thailand:
1. Pay close attention to weather conditions and plan travel arrangements reasonably
Stay tuned to the meteorological information and disaster warnings issued by the Thailand Meteorological Administration and local officials, and learn about weather, road and scenic spot conditions in advance. Plan your itinerary well, reserve necessary room for adjustment, and avoid entering disaster areas or areas with higher safety risks.
2. Stay away from disaster-prone areas and carry out outdoor activities prudently
(1) When traveling, do not risk wading, do not force your vehicle to drive through waterlogged roads or cross fast-flowing rivers. In the event of road closures, scenic area closures or evacuation orders issued by the local government, arrangements should be strictly followed.
(2) Before and after heavy rains, do not go to mountainous areas, canyons, waterfalls, streams, rivers and low-lying areas, and be alert to sudden disasters such as flash floods, landslides and mudslides. Before climbing, hiking, camping and other outdoor activities, you should know the destination, route, weather and other information, choose a safe time and place, and do not enter undeveloped areas, closed scenic spots or geological disaster risk areas. When camping, stay away from rivers, streams, valleys, steep slopes and areas prone to flash floods. Do not camp in low-lying areas or below hillsides. In the event of heavy rainfall, thunder and lightning, or a sudden change in weather, activities should be stopped immediately and relocated.
(3) During heavy storms, do not take shelter or stay under large trees, billboards, temporary structures, scaffolding, etc. You should take shelter in a fixed building as soon as possible to prevent injuries caused by falling objects from high altitude.
3. Improve safety awareness in water activities and beware of lightning strikes and drowning
In bad weather, swimming, rafting, snorkeling, boating and other wading activities should be suspended. When thunder, lightning or thunderstorms occur, stop swimming activities immediately, leave the water and swimming pool area quickly, and beware of lightning strikes. When participating in water sports, you should choose regular businesses, understand the safety facilities and relevant regulations, wear life jackets as required, and follow the instructions of the staff. When swimming at the beach, you should pay attention to warning flags and lifeguard instructions. It is strictly forbidden to enter the water in red flag warning areas.
4. Prepare emergency supplies in advance and enhance disaster prevention and response capabilities
Keep mobile phone communications open, and inform relatives and friends of your itinerary, accommodation location, and traveling companions in a timely manner. Depending on the local disaster risk situation, supplies such as drinking water, convenience foods, commonly used medicines, first aid kits, rain gear, lighting equipment, and emergency power supplies should be appropriately stocked. Keep important documents properly and make backup copies. People living in low-lying areas or areas with high disaster risks should know nearby safe evacuation sites and evacuation routes, be prepared for evacuation at any time, and avoid delays in evacuating after receiving disaster warnings and evacuation notices.
5. Ask for help promptly when in danger and carry out rescue according to your ability.
In the event of a sudden disaster, you should stay calm, take reasonable precautions, ensure personal safety, and call the relevant departments for help simultaneously. If you encounter others who are in danger, do not watch, stay or return to the dangerous area in a show of force. You should quickly seek help and perform scientific rescue under adequate safety conditions, professional guidance and available tools to prevent secondary injuries.
Relevant contact numbers:
1. Thailand National Meteorological Administration website http://www.tmd.go.th, hotline 1182 (24-hour service).
2. Thailand’s National Public Disaster Prevention and Reduction Agency (rescue for flash floods, mudslides, landslides and other geological disasters) hotline 1784.
Thailand’s National Public Disaster Prevention and Reduction No. 11 (Suratthani) Branch Center (responsible for Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Chumphon, and Phatthalung Province), contact number 0-7738-0641.
Thailand National Public Disaster Prevention and Reduction No. 12 (Songkhla) Branch Center (responsible for Songkhla, Satun, Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat Province), contact number 074-251160-3.
Thailand National Public Disaster Prevention and Reduction No. 18 (Phuket) Branch Center (responsible for Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Ranong, and Trang Province), contact number 0-7621-9532.
3.Thailand Tourism Police (tourism disputes, accident coordination and investigation and handling) hotline 1155 (including Chinese services).
4. Royal Thai Police (Criminal Investigation and Processing) alarm hotline 191.
5. Thailand Water Police (rescue for missing at sea, ship in distress, people falling into the water, etc.) hotline 1196.
6. Thailand emergency hotline 1669.
7. Thailand Consumer Protection Hotline 1166.
8. The consular protection telephone number of the Consulate General in Songkhla is (00)66-927104380.
9. Global Consular Protection and Service Emergency Hotline of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (24-hour service) +86-10-12308, +86-10-65612308.
