Prachuap Khiri Khan Province is set to hold a large-scale accident response drill on Phetkasem Road on September 4, 2024, as part of an ongoing effort to enhance emergency management skills and build public confidence.
The full-scale exercise will take place at the front yard of the Wing 5 Club in Ao Manao, based on a simulated scenario designed to test the readiness of local agencies in handling major road accidents.
The initiative follows an integrated disaster prevention and mitigation training program for large-scale road accidents, which was launched at the Pakarang Room of the Fa Chom Kluen Hotel, Wing 5, Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan District. The program was inaugurated by Mr. Kittipong Sukpakul, Deputy Governor of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, with the participation of heads of government agencies and staff from various related organisations, including the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Regional Office 4, district offices, local administrative bodies, the Provincial Highway Department, the Provincial Public Health Office, the Provincial Police, and rescue foundations.
Organised by the Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, with budget support from the Road Safety Fund under the Department of Land Transport, the training aimed to improve the skills of personnel in effectively managing and responding to large-scale accidents on Phetkasem Road, the main thoroughfare connecting the 14 southern provinces.
The training sessions included a tabletop exercise and a demonstration drill, featuring expert briefings on electric vehicles and emergency response strategies for road accidents. The briefings were provided by specialists from the Highway Police Rescue Unit of Thailand. Additionally, Lieutenant Colonel Apinya Sakdina, District Chief of Pranburi, delivered a lecture on incident command systems. Participants were then divided into groups to conduct practical exercises based on various scenarios, including vehicle collisions, the establishment of an incident command centre, fire and chemical incidents, emergency medical and rescue operations, and the handling of hazardous chemicals from electric vehicles.
The upcoming full-scale drill will simulate a high-impact accident involving a tanker truck carrying 48,000 litres of diesel fuel. The scenario will depict the truck losing control and colliding with a Bangkok-Hat Yai passenger bus on Phetkasem Road at kilometre marker 312+020, in front of the HomePro store in Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan District. The crash will lead to a chain reaction involving an electric car and a gas-powered sedan, resulting in multiple casualties and injuries. Diesel fuel will spill onto the road, and smoke will be simulated from the electric car.
Emergency personnel, including ambulances, fire trucks, and water tankers, will be dispatched to the scene to manage the situation and assist the injured and deceased. The drill is expected to provide valuable hands-on experience for personnel from various agencies, helping to refine the 2024 Road Safety Operational Plan for Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.