Tsunami evacuation drills

On the resort island of Phuket, evacuation drills were conducted in 19 locations and large numbers of residents, students and visitors joined the event, presided over by Deputy Prime Minister Suwit Khunkitti.

In Phang Nga, rescue workers and villagers in Takua Pa district joined the mock drill.

However, Moken sea gypsies from Ban Tabtawan refused to take part, saying they were disgruntled at being evicted from their living place with no help from authorities.

The ethnic Moken have been living as stateless people along the coastline fishing villages and islands of the southern provinces for generations. Many still live a traditional life in harmony with nature.

The 2004 tsunami struck Thailand's six coastal provinces, killing more than 5,000 foreign tourists and local people.