Quakes jolt old fears

Although geologists are urging calm and caution against panic, a recent series of tremors detected in the Nicobar Islands, located off the coast of Phuket and Phangnga provinces, as well as the northern province of Lampang, has been a powerful reminder of the need to ensure the country's tsunami warning system remains fully functional.

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More broadly, the Earth has displayed some unusual seismic activity lately. In Japan, over 1,000 earthquakes have struck the Tokara Islands in the past few weeks, prompting evacuation orders.

Closer to Thailand, the Meteorological Department's Earthquake Observation Division has reported eight earthquakes in Myanmar since July 1, with the strongest event being magnitude 4.2 at a depth of 10km, approximately 94km northwest of Mae Hong Son.

As experts have emphasised, the earthquakes in the Nicobar Islands are not yet a cause for concern. Even so, these tremors occurring in the very area that triggered the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami should serve as a critical reminder: we must never become complacent and always keep warning systems fully operational.