Tsunami drill in April 2005

Sirens blared and helicopters clattered overhead as hundreds of Thai volunteers and foreign tourists fled Phuket's beaches on 29 April 2005 in the first test of a tsunami evacuation plan for the tourist destination Patong Beach.

Residents and members of the local community are being educated and made aware of the potential dangers of natural disasters so they are well-prepared and know how to respond to warnings through a series of disaster response drills.