Meterologist fired

[Cookiely]

Somebody had to take the fall. Doesn't seem like its his fault to me. Reminded me of the movie Jaws.
Thailand fires chief meteorologist
Inquiry launched into why no tsunami warning was issued
Tuesday, January 4, 2005 Posted: 5:15 AM EST (1015 GMT)
BANGKOK, Thailand (Reuters) -- Thailand has fired its chief meteorologist and opened an investigation into why his department failed to issue a tsunami warning which might have saved thousands of lives, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced.

"When a quake measured at 8.9-9.0 on the Richter scale struck in Sumatra, it was widely known tsunami can happen. But why weren't there any alerts? I really want to know the truth," Thaksin told reporters Tuesday.

A day after deadly waves devastated the country's Andaman Sea coast, Meteorological Department chief Suparerk Tansriratanawong had told reporters Thailand had not been hit by a tsunami in more than 300 years and had no reason to expect one.

But the English-language Nation newspaper quoted an unnamed member of the department last week as saying a tsunami alert was not issued for fear of hurting the important tourist industry at the peak season if it turned out to be false.

During the investigation, to be led by Information & Communications Technology Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, Suparerk will help set up a national early warning system for all natural disasters, a government spokesman said.

No Asian country issued a warning of the Dec. 26 tsunami, triggered by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake off Indonesia, which killed nearly 150,000 people as it crashed ashore around the Indian Ocean.

Thai expert says he tried to warn the government a deadly tsunami might be sweeping towards tourist-packed beaches, but couldn't find anyone to take his calls.

Samith Dhammasaroj said Monday he was sure a tsunami was coming as soon as he heard about the massive December 26 earthquake off Indonesia's Sumatra island that measured magnitude 9.0 -- the world's biggest in 40 years. (Full story)

"I tried to call the director-general of the meteorological office, but his phone was always busy," Samith said as he described his desperate attempts to generate an alert which might have saved thousands of lives.

"I tried to phone the office, but it was a Sunday and no-one was there," said the former chief of the meteorological department now charged with setting up an early warning disaster system for Thailand.

"I knew that one day we would have this type of tsunami. I warned that there would be a big disaster," he told reporters.

"Everyone laughed at me and said I was a bad guy who wanted to ruin the tourist industry," he added.

The tsunami took just 75 minutes to hit the beaches and islands of Thailand's Andaman Sea coast, 600 km (375 miles) from the earthquake's epicenter.

Hotels on Thailand's Andaman Sea coast were packed when the tsunami hit, killing at least 5,187 people, including more than 2,400 foreign tourists, many from Scandinavia, drawn to its sand, warm seas and coral reefs to escape the long northern winter.

[Miss Mary]

Sad outcome, but not surprising. I read this met's quotes online in another article. Shame he had to be fired but I can understand why. Survivors want consequences for a warning not being issued.

I've watched more than my fair share of disaster movies. The Met or specialist warning of impending doom (volcano, earthquake, tsunami, blizzard, tornado), usually gets resistance from usual channels. And has to hold their own press conference. I realize that's fiction/Hollywood but it's done so many times in these types of movies, I wonder if it might have worked had this Met gone to a local TV station? What could it have hurt? Just his pride, if he had been wrong?

Mary

[JenBayles]

I've watched more than my fair share of disaster movies. The Met or specialist warning of impending doom (volcano, earthquake, tsunami, blizzard, tornado), usually gets resistance from usual channels. And has to hold their own press conference. I realize that's fiction/Hollywood but it's done so many times in these types of movies, I wonder if it might have worked had this Met gone to a local TV station? What could it have hurt? Just his pride, if he had been wrong?

Mary

Sad to say, but in that part of the world, media (as most commerce) is controlled by government bureaucrats and bribes. Probably would have lost more than his job had he done anything on his own.

[alicia-w]

i wonder which office made the decision based on the impact to tourism. wow. i would think thousands of dead folks might impact the tourism industry...

[depotoo]

know what you mean - noticed here in fl they issue a lot less watches during storms than in tx and have wondered if it is due to the tourists. really makes me mad some times.

[Lindaloo]

But the English-language Nation newspaper quoted an unnamed member of the department last week as saying a tsunami alert was not issued for fear of hurting the important tourist industry at the peak season if it turned out to be false.

Now this is just downright stupidity!! I am sure lots of tourists lost their lives because of this thinking.

[Miss Mary]

No one would have to tell me twice a tsunami was possible, for me to leave a beach! But beaches are very crowded and people ignore signs all the time (high tides, etc.). I would think officials would have had to walk beach to beach, using a bull horn to get people to pay attention. When you're on vacation, you're just in another mode entirely.

Mary

[depotoo]

i don't know - you have to have respect for an unknown beach and i as a tourist listen carefully to warnings such as for riptides, etc. i think it could have saved a lot of lives myself.

[azskyman]

While on Maui last September, the tsunami siren sounded. Not a soul came to the beach or announced the need to evacuate the area.

I kept an eye on the sea, but did stay put. We had a plan if that wave had come up on the horizon.

Still...seems unfair for a meteorologist to take the hit when local officials along the beachfront must have known about the risk as well.

Sad sidebar to a tragic tragic story.

[Rainband]

I agree that was a very tragic event that had no warning. NO blame can be placed plain and simple.