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BANGKOK, Thailand (Reuters) -- Thailand has fired its chief meteorologist and opened an investigation into why his department failed to issue a tsunami warning which might have saved thousands of lives, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced.

"When a quake measured at 8.9-9.0 on the Richter scale struck in Sumatra, it was widely known tsunami can happen. But why weren't there any alerts? I really want to know the truth," Thaksin told reporters Tuesday.

A day after deadly waves devastated the country's Andaman Sea coast, Meteorological Department chief Suparerk Tansriratanawong had told reporters Thailand had not been hit by a tsunami in more than 300 years and had no reason to expect one.

But the English-language Nation newspaper quoted an unnamed member of the department last week as saying a tsunami alert was not issued for fear of hurting the important tourist industry at the peak season if it turned out to be false.

During the investigation, to be led by Information & Communications Technology Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, Suparerk will help set up a national early warning system for all natural disasters, a government spokesman said.

No Asian country issued a warning of the Dec. 26 tsunami, triggered by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake off Indonesia, which killed nearly 150,000 people as it crashed ashore around the Indian Ocean.

Thai expert says he tried to warn the government a deadly tsunami might be sweeping towards tourist-packed beaches, but couldn't find anyone to take his calls.

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Originally posted by Kefka

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Colleen: "I'm still waiting for the States to match Japan."

You don't wanna live in Japan. Trust me.

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Originally posted by Jizuko

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There'll always be the discussion of the beggar that has 10$ and donates 9$ versus the millionaire that donates 1000$. The millionaire donates most but the beggar gives most of what he possess.

I know that it would be impossible for the US to match many other countries in donations per GDP since they are bigger they also have more poverty and homeless people. But 1.2$~ per GDP?

So Craw, I quote again;
"Norway's pledge would come out to approximately $39.50 per citizen. The U.S. pledge of $350 million comes out to $1.19 per person."

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