Kata: This is a more popular and touristy area, with resorts and beach clubs. Is Phuket Safe? Here's What You Need To Know - A Broken Backpack Road safety is one of them rural roads can be particularly dangerous at night time. Visitors mainly have to face pickpocketing and petty theft in Phuket. Read one of the following guides: Disclaimer: This website may contain affiliate links. The good ol tuk-tuk is still being used around Phuket. From money-grabbing jetski scams and the dangers of driving around on a motorbike, all the way to natural stuff like riptides, there are definitely things that can put you into danger in Phuket. We will need to revise these.. Rainforests, mountains, and some of Thailands most sought-after beaches, this is Phuket. If you want to increase your safety during your stay, read on for our insider travel tips. Tsunamis created by subduction zone earthquakes at these trenches have several hundred to several thousand kilometres of ocean to travel across before reaching our shores. Both holidays will see a 24-hour ban on the sale of alcohol throughout the country on both days. Sun hats help, too. Answer 1 of 6: Me and a friend are booked to fly to Phuket in just over a week. That said, I spent several months in Thailand over the years, and my experience was positive. In case of an emergency or unexpected event, having insurance can provide peace of mind and financial protection. From there, they used these findings to make tsunami predictions about dozens of other active subduction zones around the "ring of fire", a nearly 25,000-mile path where most of the world's . It wont be down to the wire cutting edge info on the most current events, but it is layered in the expertise of veteran travellers. Yet a myth persists that a person could outrun a tsunami. South Korea to issue assessment of Japan's Fukushima discharge plan on It just pays to be smart when youre eating and its all about common sense. woosh!! You need to be careful with what you say about anything political going on in the country. Thankfully most of the time anyway, Phuket is pretty safe. Due to proximity of the Andaman coasts of Thailand situated just 500 km east of the earthquake epicenter, the tsunami took just 2 hours to strike the western coastline of the country. Thailand will mark two public holidays next week: Asarnha Bucha next Wednesday (July 13) and Khao Pansa next Thursday (July 14). Yes, Phuket is a safe place to visit. And its perfectly safe, as long as you read the reviews. Order in-app, put your destination in-app, pay in-app. View tsunami evacuation zones for Hawaii and Guam. Expect prices to be a bit higher than on the mainland. Required fields are marked *. This is scary as we flying to Phuket at the end of the month. A tourist destination like Hawaii which also registers a lot of earthquakes each year, is at far greater risk, as it is in the path of tsunamis from California, Alaska, Japan and many other hot spots in the ring of fire. In the area you have selected (Thailand) tsunami hazard is classified as medium according to the information that is currently available. And IMO: no risks of major earthquakes, hurricanes, etc. Your safety and security are pretty much going to rest entirely on your shoulders. The airport taxis have a non-negotiable fixed price, but there are metered taxis around the front anyway. The turquoise waters at the north end of the beach are nice and calm, making the conditions perfect for swimmers and splashers of all ages. Phuket is a great destination for female travelers too, but its essential to use caution, especially if youre traveling solo. While there may be some petty crimes like pickpocketing or scams, overall the crime rate in Phuket is low. Undersea earthquakes arent the sort of thing that is easily predictable, so whilst this may happen again, it also may not. the shoes and hand bags will have residual sand within. document.getElementById("ak_js_2").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); document.getElementById("ak_js_3").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Is Phuket Safe for Travel? There are also very few incidences of violent crime. Located on the islands west coast, this village is perfect for travellers looking for a great mix of relaxed atmosphere, exciting nightlife, and a variety of great attractions. The crime rating of Phuket on Numbeo is 44.75%, which is moderate. Being smart with how you act and what you get up to is the best way to go. (See story here.). Read ourPhuket Neighborhood Guidefor our favorite accommodations in Phuket by area. The systems for prediction and alerts are also costly, thus, not many coasts are equipped with them. As at the end of September 2006, there were 150 confirmed British dead and one highly likely to have died, giving a total of 151. Within five years, individuals were back in homes they owned, often on their original land, in communities with new schools and in many cases improved infrastructure. In some cases, tsunami arrives without a distinct high wave, but as a sequence of short tidal waves. Is there a tsunami risk in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? When it comes to street food, be cautious and use common sense. The earthquake itself (apart from the tsunami) was felt as far away as Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore and the Maldives. All rights reserved. And dont forget to have fun and meet new people Phuket is a great destination for solo travelers looking to experience the beauty and culture of Thailand. The tsunami killed at least 225,000 people across a dozen countries, with Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, and Thailand sustaining massive damage. Personally, Ive been using SafetyWing for several years now, and Ive had great experiences with them. It's worth noting that if you do decide to vacation at one of these destinations it would be worth knowing the risks of a tsunami and what to do if one strikes while you're there. Its nowhere near as busy as places like Patong, which also makes it pretty safe to visit. Tourism in Thailand is safer because of the incident, but it is important to know more about the warning signs and be aware of the warning system in place in order to stay safe during your travels. The presumption, however, that a tour agency offering snorkelling . Yes, theres heaps of brilliant stuff to do in Phuketfor all types of travelers. As Thailand is quite a conservative country, we recommend you dress conservatively to avoid unwanted attention. Supachai Chanphet, head of the DDPM office at Karon Municipality, told The Phuket News on Wednesday, The current map of tsunami-evacuation routes and safe zones for Karon and Kata was fully revised and underwent a big update three years ago. How likely is a tsunami in Phuket? The move also aims to increase the confidence of local residents and tourists in the tsunami-warning system, he added. Did Thailand know the tsunami was coming? There are police checks in Phuket, and if you dont have an international driving license, you could get a fine of up to TBH 1000. In general, Thailand has a good reputation for solo female travelers, but like anywhere in the world, there have been cases of sexual harassment or abuse. To avoid this, research reputable rental companies and check with locals or other travelers for recommendations. Image: Patong Municipality / DDPM, The map showing the tsunami-danger zones at Kamala. Tsunami Zone Evacuation Map. You can protect yourself from that by staying aware of your surroundings and keeping your valuables hidden. We truly hope, that the next time when it happens, people will be ready for this event. Among the 5,400 who died were 2,000 foreign tourists. Did you know that 40 m high waves are safer than a 5 m high tsunami? And happy travels! In many places, the waves reached as far as 2 km (1.2 mi) inland. Mr Paitoon also noted, All 110 evacuation signs must be replaced or relocated. Regardless the fact that Thailand is considered to be one of the safest countries in the South-East Asia in terms of crime, you should not forget that this country is located between two large oceans, which make one of the biggest dangers that are out of control of a human You are a responsible traveller, since before starting your trip you have decided to learn about the safety of a place you are going to visit. Youre connected. governor picture specialist and sadly nothing else.(Read More), I'm sure if the cops took him to prison they would of murdered him anyway like the Australian.(Read More), By continuing to use our site you consent to the use of cookies as described in our privacy policy. Less frenetic than beaches in neighbouring Kata and Patong, Kamala Beach is made of powdery white sand perfect for sunbathing, playing, and building sandcastles. All opinions are my own. All 19 tsunami-warning towers in Phuket are operational, it was reported today (July 7). But thanks for warning us as I hadn't seen these recent ones mentioned. Bottled water is readily available, or if your accommodation has a water filter, use a refillable bottle to be more eco-friendly. You should always be aware of the possibility of crime. He was vacationing in Sri Lanka with partner Nate Berkus. There are a lot more people in Phuket. Today, the family from The Impossible is devoted to doing good. The tsunami changed the course of the familys lives. This is called an earthquake recurrence interval.. Phuket Governor addresses tsunami fears - The Phuket News Com You can still leave your comment below at the same time. Tsunami is dangerous first of all not for the high wave itself, but for the wide and powerful flow of water, which hits the shore with a great force. Australia is relatively lucky when it comes to tsunamis. Phuket Town is the capital of Phuket province and the largest city on the island. Dengue fever is present in Phuket, so making sure you all cover up, burning coils and using insect repellent is definitely the way to go. all aussies cancel your trip! Seeing what happened after the tsunami hit Palu brought flashbacks of the 2004 tsunami, he said. Between the pandemic, ever-worsening cultural division, and a click-hungry media, it can be hard to maintain what is truth and what is sensationalism. Image: Patong Municipality / DDPM, A map showing the Patong tsunami-evacuation routes and safe assembly areas. 14 October 2018 - 12:07:38, The problem is not "off-road" racing. Beaches and history and a ton of fun, Phuket is where its at for good times in Thailand. The beach in Kamala is also particularly attractive to families with young children. A massive Tsunami took the life of internationally acclaimed photographer Fernando Bengoechea in December 2004. These maps do not consider the destructive effects of a locally generated tsunami. All relevant officials are to monitor the situation 24 hours a day, especially during long holidays, Governor Narong ordered. Taxis in Phuket are safe. There are also localsongthaews. In all honesty, Phuket's danger levels are incredibly low compared to many cities and countries around the globe. as I read that there has been 32 earthquakes in the Andaman sea in the 3 days ! It takes time to build up the energy to cause a new big quake again. Also during the monsoon season, there are large waves and strong currents that affect the waters around the island of Phuket. Thailand in general has a low rate of crime that targets tourists.