The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will help Thailand set up a tsunami early warning system by providing training to its officials, Thai Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon has said. 

After meeting with UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura, Kantathi said the two sides would discuss whether the Pathum Thani-based Asia Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) could be developed into a regional center for the Indian Ocean.

The UN agency would also train Thai experts in building a tsunami early warning system, he added.

"Thailand is keen to support ADPC in playing a constructive role on a region-wide basis to have an effective early warning system in the Indian Ocean that is linked to the global system," Kantathi was quoted by Bangkok Post newspaper as saying.

Matsuura said his agency had reached an agreement with Indian Ocean countries that national early warning systems were needed as well as regional ones.

Meanwhile, three warning towers will be erected next week in Patong beach of Thailand's southern Phuket province to alert people of possible dangers.

Warnings will be sent through the towers to radio stations and public announcement systems and 20 million mobile phones.

Similar siren systems are planned to be set up with government budget at 27 more sites in the six provinces wrecked by last year's tsunami.

Source: Xinhua