The center was located near the Tha Chat Chai checkpoint – that is, simultaneously close to the 8th Region Police…

New Thai Disaster Management Center Opens in Mai Khao. The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) officially opened a new Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) headquarters in Thalang, which is set to become the central base and training center for the department on the island. The ceremony took place on May 18. The center is located near the Tha Chat Chai checkpoint, which means it is close to the 8th Region Police Headquarters and in operational reach of Phuket International Airport and the Phuket Yacht Haven marina. What's more important, it has become the first major rescue base in the northern part of the island. The organization of the DDPM center in Mai Khao was handled by the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO). At the opening of the center on May 18, PPAO President Rewat Arirojpreecha announced that the base would not only be responsible for Thalang district but also tackle provincial-level issues. The DDPM center in Mai Khao will provide readiness of emergency services' equipment and personnel for the entire island of Phuket. In his speech, Mr. Arirojpreecha mentioned recent emergencies in Chalong and Karone. The report from the Phuket Public Relations Department (PR Phuket) does not specify which incidents are being referred to. It can only be assumed that the incident in Karone refers to the landslide on the Big Buddha Hill in August 2024, and the incident in Chalong refers to the major fire on a speedboat jetty in January 2026. The opening of the center was preceded by a check conducted by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). The process of preparing the buildings for the DDPM structures was delayed so much that the project ended up on the list of problematic ones - with suspicion of a corrupt component. After the NACC check, the work was accelerated, and on May 18, the center officially started working (although not in February as promised by RRAO). Photo: PR Phuket, RRAO