PUBLISHED: 15 May 2025 at 20: 44
Following the earthquake on March 28, Assoc Prof Alongkorn Parivudhiphongs, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Communication Art at Chulalongkorn University, said effective communication is necessary to raise public awareness and readiness during a crisis.
Assoc Prof Alongkorn made an important point at Knowledge Forum: After the Quake, which was co-hosted by the Bangkok Post and the Communication Arts instructors on Thursday, by highlighting how the Thai government has consistently failed to address its issue contact attempts, which frequently causes people panic and confusion.
He cited the new disaster, which originated in Mandalay in Myanmar and was felt in 57 regions in Thailand, as a significant indication of the effects of poor communication.
He claimed that the spread of false information and propaganda is made simple by social media. This causes a lot of confusion, especially because people have access to unreliable and correct information in a disparate manner. The government faces a significant obstacle in closing this info gap.
Assoc. Prof. Alongkorn stressed the value of providing alerts and making sure the consumer comprehends how to listen to them.
” While persons received the instructions, the government has tested its emergency alert system, numerous didn’t know what to do. He remarked that this is a crucial flaw that needs to be addressed.
He cited the recent earthquake as a significant wake-up contact.
It demonstrated how much knowledge and experience are available to the general public when dealing with earthquakes.
He cited examples of how Thai students remained unsure about what was happening while Chinese students attending college classes at the time were said to have instantly recognized the tremor and evacuated the building.
He even made a point about how social media is increasingly important in shaping public opinion during emergencies.
It’s important that social media platforms work together to ensure that only reliable, fact-based data is distributed during catastrophes, he said.
Assoc Prof. Alongkorn urged the government to prioritize the creation of a complete crisis communication strategy in order to address these issues, not just for disasters but also for other probable natural disasters.
He said that being prepared means having all the necessary support mechanisms in place, particularly a reactive public health system to assist victims in emergencies.