There can be little doubt that disaster preparedness saves lives. Before noon on Dec. 7. 1988, an earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale struck Soviet Armenia, killing at least 25,000 people according to official Soviet estimates. Less than one year later, an earthquake of similar magnitude jolted San Francisco, California, shortly before rush hour. However. this earthquake claimed fewer than 70 lives. In Armenia, most of the victims died when their multi-story apartment buildings crumbled and collapsed on them. These dwellings were not built in accordance

UNDRO 89/2304

THAILAND TYPHOON 'GAY' -
UNDRO INFORMATION REPORT NO. 1
9 NOVEMBER 1989

1. ON 3 NOVEMBER, TYPHOON 'GAY' HIT GULF OF THAILAND WITH WIND UP TO 120 KM/H AND LANDED CHUMPHON, WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGES. ROADS, RAILWAYS AND TELEPHONE LINKS WITH SOUTHERN PROVINCES WERE CUT OFF.

2. AFFECTED AREAS ARE CHUMPHON, NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, PHETCHABURI, PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN, RANONG, RAYONG, SONGKHLA AND SURAT THANI PROVINCES. MOST AFFECTED ARE CHUMPHON.

3. MINISTRY OF INTERIOR REPORTED ESTIMATED DAMAGE AS FOLLOWS: