A person walks amid the destruction left behind by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. - AP
BANGKOK (Bernama): Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its Royal Thai Consulate in Los Angeles, United States, has urged Thai nationals in the area to remain vigilant following wildfires in California that have destroyed many homes and forced numerous evacuations.
Director-General of the Department of Information and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nikorndej Balankura, said the Royal Thai Consulate in Los Angeles has been closely monitoring the situation and has established an emergency operations centre to assist Thai nationals in the affected areas.
"We urge Thai nationals in the area to continue monitoring the situation closely, follow the news, and keep important documents and belongings readily accessible in case they need to evacuate the area," he told reporters during a briefing on Friday.
Nikorndej stated that there have been a few reports of Thai nationals being affected by the incident, but the exact number has yet to be determined.
"I encourage everyone in the affected areas to contact the Consulate General's operations centre for assistance," he added.
It has been reported that multiple wildfires have broken out in and around Los Angeles, California, since Tuesday, killing at least ten people and prompting tens of thousands to evacuate.
Meanwhile, Nikorndej also advised Thai communities abroad, particularly in Europe and the Middle East, to be cautious of fraud cases.
He said the Thai Foreign Ministry has received numerous reports of fraud cases in European countries where scammers have impersonated Thai Embassy officials, using forged embassy phone numbers to request personal information and demand money transfers from Thai communities abroad.
"In Middle Eastern countries, scammers often use social media to lure Thai nationals with offers of work as massage or spa workers, promising exaggerated benefits. However, the actual working conditions are harsh, the wages are low, and there is even the possibility of being transferred to other types of facilities," he said.
Nikorndej urged Thai nationals who are interested in working abroad to thoroughly verify the credibility of potential employers and their working conditions to avoid falling victim to human trafficking. - Bernama
