Safety and disasters: emergency numbers, how to prepare, and official sources

Last checked 1 Nov 2026 • By the Spider Astro team

This page puts emergency numbers, preparation tips and what to do in each kind of hazard in one place. You can save or print it. If you are in an emergency right now, call the numbers below first, then come back to read.

Emergency numbers in Thailand

Last checked 1 Nov 2026 from several Thai media reports; verify against each agency's website before relying on them. If you are outside Thailand these numbers will not work — use the emergency numbers of that country. For visitors in Thailand, the most useful are 1669 (ambulance), 191 (police), 199 (fire and rescue) and 1155 (tourist police).

Official sources

• Dept. of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM)
• Thai Meteorological Department
• Air4Thai — Pollution Control Department (station readings)
• National Institute for Emergency Medicine
• Department of Mental Health
• Thai Red Cross Society
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• USGS (global earthquakes)
• GDACS (Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System)

If a link does not open, search the agency's name — websites can move.

Prepare ahead

• Documents and cash: copies of ID or passport, important papers and some cash, in a waterproof bag.
• Medicines and first aid: personal medicines (enough for several days), a first-aid kit, masks.
• Water and dry food: enough for everyone in the household for at least several days.
• Light and power: torch, power bank, chargers, a portable radio; keep your phone charged when warnings are issued.
• Family plan: agree a meeting point and a contact person, and write key numbers on paper in case phones fail.
• Know evacuation routes and shelters announced by local authorities.
• Look after those who need help: older people, children, people with disabilities and pets; note neighbours who can help each other.

What to do, by hazard

Flood

• Move valuables up high. If told to evacuate, use the routes the authorities give.
• Do not walk or drive through floodwater: water that looks shallow can be strong enough to knock you over or float a car, and it may be electrified.
• If it is safe, switch off the main power before water enters the house.

Earthquake

• Drop, cover your head and hold on to something sturdy (such as a strong table), away from glass and things that can fall.
• Do not use lifts. When shaking stops, leave the building carefully and expect aftershocks.
• If you smell gas, open windows, get out, and do not operate light switches.

Storms and lightning

• Stay in a solid building, away from windows.
• Avoid open ground, tall trees and water; in a car, keep the windows closed.
• Follow Thai Meteorological Department announcements.

PM2.5 and smoke

• Cut outdoor activity and close windows. If you must go out, wear a mask that filters fine particles (such as N95 or equivalent); ordinary cloth masks filter little fine dust.
• Children, older people, pregnant women and people with lung or heart conditions need extra care; see a doctor if symptoms appear.
• Check station readings on Air4Thai.

Extreme heat

• Drink water often, stay out of the sun, rest somewhere cool and avoid heavy outdoor work around midday.
• Never leave children or pets in a parked car.
• If someone is confused, has hot dry skin, feels faint or collapses, call 1669 immediately.

When there is news of unrest or tension

• Rely on announcements from government and local authorities, not on messages forwarded in chat groups.
• Check before you share: who reported it, when, and whether the source can be verified. Rumours and old images being reposted are common during events.
• Prepare essentials from the list above in advance, but there is no need to hoard.
• Know the evacuation routes and shelters the authorities announce, and agree a meeting point with your family.
• If you are abroad: contact your own country's embassy or consulate there.

Looking after yourself

• Take breaks from the news. Check reliable sources a few times a day instead of scrolling constantly.
• Talk to someone you trust; keep regular sleep and meals.
• If you feel overwhelmed or have thoughts of harming yourself in Thailand, call 1323 (mental health hotline, 24 h), or 1669 in a medical emergency.

Lost, or out at sea

If you are lost or at sea in Thai waters, report sea emergencies on 1465 (Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center) or on marine VHF channel 16 (156.800 MHz), the international distress channel. The Spider Astro compass page shows your heading, your GPS position (latitude/longitude) to give to rescuers, a way to check direction with the Sun, and a sample distress message. Open it once while online and it can keep working without a signal. A phone compass can be wrong, so it is not a primary navigation tool.

Live data in the app

The Spider Astro app has a “Safety” page that shows live data from public sources for the place you choose: earthquakes in the last 7 days (USGS), orange and red alert events (GDACS), and a modelled estimate of PM2.5 (Open-Meteo/CAMS). The data can be delayed or incomplete, and “no events found” does not mean safe.

If you find a mistake or a broken link, tell us at the email shown on the privacy policy page.