Bangkok: The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation is accelerating the procurement of a Cell broadcast system to provide self-disaster warnings after an earthquake and a building collapse in the Chatuchak area. Mr. Sahat Wongskulvivat, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), revealed the DDPM's operations regarding the earthquake that occurred last week. Initially, the DDPM coordinated closely with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, which played a role in commanding the incident. In terms of future prevention plans, Mr. Phasakorn Boonyalak, Director-General of the DDPM, invited the NBTC and related agencies to adjust the work format for sending warning messages to the public to be more accurate, precise, and faster. The DDPM also has a plan to procure a Cell broadcast system to send out disaster warning messages by itself.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, has urged the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation to focus on providing assistance to the people. In terms of compensation, the Ministry of Interior has coordinated with the Comptroller General's Department to request an additional budget for emergency payment of 200 million baht and is ready to submit the matter to the Cabinet meeting if necessary for approval. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation will coordinate with the Comptroller General's Department and Bangkok to hold a meeting to determine the criteria for disbursing compensation to those affected by the incident as appropriate in the near future. He also confirmed that for foreign workers, if they enter to work legally and are properly registered, they will receive assistance and compensation equivalent to Thais.