richard_smith237

I don't disagree... I just think its both... Any untimely death is tragic, but the emotional narrative that its less so due to foolishness and / or stupidity understandably allows many of us to 'step away' from the emotional side and concentrate on the 'stupidity' aspect...

Interesting response - particularly how monsoon season could increase the impact of liquefaction after influencing the water table in Bangkok. I covered various similar examples of other cites with similar Geological settings in this thread:

I haven't seen any evidence of "mass hysteria" here in Bangkok. Have you, or did you just dream that up? Perhaps 'mass hysteria' is an unfair wording.... Rather, it was a widespread sense of panic, fear, and alarm, as some buildings swayed with aftershocks and tremors, prompting further evacuations on Monday. I used the term 'hysteria' because when individuals become panicked or fearful, that anxiety often spreads, amplifying the distress of others. I've spoken with people in Bangkok who fled and evacuated buildings on Monday. While their fear was undoubtedly triggered by the light swaying of buildings, the heightened anxiety of those around them, expressed through shouting, screaming, and crying only served to intensify the terror - I'd consider that hysteria, as I know the fear is 'unfounded' and thus spread throughout the crowds. Without wishing to get into debate (I've covered this in other threads) - the aftershocks and tremors are not powerful to bring down buildings - which is what people at the time were fearful of.

Perhaps, but it struck me as a rather callous remark. Regardless of the circumstances, the death of anyone is undeniably tragic to someone, even if we ourselves feel no personal connection or emotional response to the news. While I can understand your perspective to some extent; that it may not be a 'widespread' tragedy and perhaps not tragic to you or I directly, I would acknowledge that it may indeed be a profound loss to others close to him and thus considered tragic. I found myself contemplating whether nationality played a role in the lack of empathy, or if the self-inflicted nature of the man's demise prompted such a response. The latter, I can somewhat understand; the former, however, seems entirely unnecessary.

Indeed... In Japan, having arrived less than a few hours earlier, Data Roaming (Wifi calling on)... my AppleWatch and iPhone alarms went off - highlighting a natural disaster alert at the same time an earthquake rocked the hotel... This alert system was announced back in March 2024 - as its not in place already, I can only assume a signature somewhere has not been signed... someone wants their cut as I really can't see what other holdup could cause something which appears (on the surface at least) such an obvious thing to set up considering so many other countries do it.

Same here - but that was 8 months ago (UK VFS BKK renewal for both my Son and I) I'm wondering if anything has 'evolved' - but your experience is very recent, so I suspect not. Gaccha's account seems strange.

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IF it were a member of your family, I'm sure the rest of your family would be morning the tragic loss of life of a loved one.... ... as he was Russian, there's no room for compassion ? Other comments also valid - with the body split in half, lower half 60m away from the upper - high speed is implied - so yes, idiotic... but again, a tragic loss for his family. Also fortunate that he didn't take anyone else with him.

Yeah... Its a tricky one... People naturally wont want to live in a rented damaged condo... but owners area also taking a huge hit on having to repair any internal cosmetic damage... ... They won't want to be giving up any money. A lot of people renting are going to have to walk away from their deposits - I wonder what the legal stance is on this. This is also something the government 'should' be handling under their 'state of emergency powers' - that landlord owners cannot hold back the deposit of those wishing to move out of damaged buildings.

It so often amuses me when posters attempt to play some moral virtue card and instead out themselves as compete 🍆wombles.....

Indeed... There would be the usual 'netizen outrage' gracing the hallowed pages of Khaosod, The Thaiger and this forum if this were true...

No, where did I say that Ah... you would hire you own inspector to review the inspection report - got it. But... again, how would your own private inspector know whether or not inspection team carried out the inspection correctly in the first place with just a review ?....

I think its the same with any construction. We've owned a Condo here before - sold it after about 7 years or so. Didn't make a profit, but we effectively lived rent free for those years - so worth it, I couldn't call foreigners or anyone who own a condo here foolish. Our house (owned) has had leaks. Then compare to the UK where there are also horror stories. I think the construction industry on the whole has a disproportionate amount of crooks combined with labor who will spend an hour trying to save 10 mins. The difference of course now is that Thailand has just suffered a natural disaster... quite extenuating circumstances. The issue now of course is that there are a lot of people who have had to move out of their apartments and Landlords are keeping the deposits - & its not fault of the tennent who may not be able to afford a deposit on another condo etc. Conditions such as this bring out both the best and the worse in society.

You would hire your own inspection team at peak demand to run an full inspection with ultrasonic inspection of supporting structural columns.... ... How much do you think is being charged for full inspection of a large 30 floor building. AI suggests: Approximate Cost Ranges: Rapid Assessment: £5,000 - £20,000 (a quick visual and safety inspection) Detailed Structural Evaluation: £50,000 - £150,000+ (includes thorough analysis, testing, and reporting) Advanced Non-Destructive Testing: Additional £10,000 - £50,000 (e.g., ultrasound, X-ray, or ground-penetrating radar) I'd expect Thailand to be a bit cheaper obviously - but the indication is certainly that such inspection does not come cheap.

Maybe you should be advising the PM Awww.... it might sound advanced for you, but for people who went to school paid attention its not difficult. There are a lot of excellent Thai Geologists who have in depth knowledge - I'm sure the PM is being well advised by other knowledgable professionals.

He is delusional and unaware of his hypocrisy - its probably a 'grumpy old man thing' ... It would be quite comical if it weren't for the vapid toxicity of his racist comments. The fact that there hasn't been massive loss of life is not through luck - Thai buildings withstood the power of one of the largest earthquakes that could be predicted in the city.

But you are not making a fair comparison - Japan and Tokyo exists on a major Tectonic boundary, building codes in Tokyo are far more strict as a result. During the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, Tokyo's skyscrapers experienced significant swaying due to the seismic activity - a localised MMI Magnitude of VII was reported, where as in Bangkok the Maximum was VI. Its true that had the same building codes that are applied in Bangkok been applied to Buildings in Tokyo damage would have been much more severe - but thats by design, or rather lack there of due to a different geological setting with regards to proximity to major plate boundaries (Japan is situated on whats known as the 'ring of fire' - which I'm sure many have herd of).

The issue is when the information originates from unofficial sources - no one wants unfounded hysteria... but we 'need' information we can trust. A quake at the type of Sumatra (Ache) is certain a risk for the West Coast of Thailand. Hopefully - this earthquake triggers Thailands emergency warning systems into action a little more quickly - after an announcements were made in March Last year that such systems were being put into place...

And legal liability is a facet of that (whether you said it or not). The medication I mentioned has very little negative side effects, unless complicated by 'other medications'... From a moral facet - trying 'something' with basic medical knowledge is a better option that watching them die. Example: Giving someone suffering a cardiac-arrest Nitroglycerin spray can have significant immediate impact with very little downside. In fact a lot of Airlines carry both Epi-Pens and Nitroglycerin spray (or tablets) as part of their medical kits.... as its becoming more widely acceptable for laymen to admister such medication. Clexane (Low Molecular Weight) Heparin is not commonly part of standard emergency kits carried by airlines - however - Thrombosis is a major risk issue on flights. Just like a DVT and / or Pulmonary Embolism, a stroke is a thrombotic event that can be minimised with medication such as Heparin - which effectively thins the blood with little side effect (unless on other medication) - its surely better than watching someone die (thats just my perspective, I'm sure an Airline lawyer would disagree). Its the same principle as having an automated external defibrillator (AED) in public areas where the public are protected by 'good samaritan regulations' where as liability is a greater concern for corporations such as airlines.

Understanding the area is key to understanding the Tsunami risk. This quake clearly presented no risk whatsoever of a Tsunami, anywhere - certainly not the Andaman. However, La Palma (Canary Islands) could cause devastation across the whole Eastern seaboard of the Americas (the Netflix series was exaggerated - but based on a geological reality).

I too watched videos (re-posted by people in the UK) of the roads getting ripped up etc and building swaying and falling.... Some of these videos clearly showed Japanese numberplate vehicles, and imagery from other disaster sites mixed in with the worst of the images from Bangkok. Those who make such media are not invested in truth, they are interested in clicks and created drama - personally, for anyone who deliberately 'creates' such false media there should be penalties, as this creates further hysteria. News outlets themselves are just as bad - my Wife and I received well wishing messages from all of the world - it was as if the whole of Bangkok had been flattened - the media only interested in reporting the most extreme of damage, rather than a balanced overview. If anyone ever watched 'Drop the Dead Donkey' from the UK years ago - this is exactly what happens.

I don't think they are able or medically qualified to diagnose what the true medical condition is so to administer medication correctly would be at best a guess an unwise Agreed... legal liability being more of a concern than life itself. If airlines were able to carry some basics: - Epi-Pens - Heparin (Clexane) - Nitroglycerin spray All which which could life saving, but as you point out, there is an element of risk. Standing by an doing nothing has become the legal status-quo.

Minor aftershocks are fuelling mass hysteria after Friday's event, understandably creating widespread fear. If you're in a tall building and feel a minor aftershock, it’s natural to be more concerned - I'd poop it a fair bit even knowing what I know !!!... Realistically, the energy build-up along the Sagaing Fault has been released. I can't foresee another major quake for a long time. Any aftershocks are just: Re-adjustments of Faults: The fault line where the plates or rocks slipped has become destabilised. Elastic Rebound: Tectonic plates that had been "stuck" at fault lines, after excessive elastic movement, are continuing to adjust to their new positions, causing further tremors. Cascading Faults: A rupture from the main quake can trigger nearby faults, leading to aftershocks. In short, the Earth is simply finding its balance. It’s extremely unlikely any aftershock will be stronger than the main quake, unless in a very specific geological setting, such as complex faulting or nearby fault lines being triggered. The Sagaing Fault doesn’t fit this structure. However, in 1960, a major 8.0 quake in Chile triggered a 9.5 quake after a larger rupture occurred.

Ironically, you managed to grace this forum with your presence at the exact same time to reply! How delightful it is when those who criticise others for spending too much time on forums are themselves such frequent participants. Now, let's address the numbers: My post count averages around five per day. Yours? Roughly 2.5. Let’s be honest here - it doesn’t exactly take a marathon to fire off two or five posts a day. Or does each of your posts take so long to craft that those 2.5 daily contributions require a significant portion of your day? I’ll admit it - I do enjoy my time on this forum. The discussions are more engaging than the mind-numbing drivel of TV, YouTube, or TikTok. So, in that sense, your critique falls flat. It’s a weak attempt at retaliation, clearly born from the sting of unintelligent comments being exposed for what they are. But let’s refocus on the real issue: Tofu Buildings. It hardly matters who first coined the term - what’s more important is that none of Bangkok’s occupied buildings collapsed, and there was no widespread loss of life. That’s a testament to the quality of construction, not the tofu-like fragility you’re so eager to imply. The term was only ever used here as a cheap shot to degrade Thai standards. Now, let’s put things into perspective. Had a seismic event of similar localised magnitude struck a city like London or Paris the damage might have been far worse. We can’t know for sure. What we do know, however, is that a major event in Bangkok didn’t result in a massive loss of life, unlike what we’ve seen in other places under comparable circumstances.

Structural damage is undoubtedly a significant concern... .... But it’s important to first acknowledge the positive outcome: no occupied buildings collapsed, and there was no 'major' city wide loss of life (other than the tragic losses at the collapsed construction site of course). Given the considerable force of the event, with some estimates suggesting a local magnitude reaching an MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) value of VI, which corresponds to an approximate magnitude of 6.0 on the Richter scale, the outcome could have been far worse. In this context, Bangkok performed impressively well, especially considering how different the news could have been over the past few days. However, the real concern now lies in the 'follow-on impact' - the structural integrity of buildings and the public's trust in a regime and culture that has a recent history of corruption, which is a justified worry. People are understandably anxious about the quality of safety in a system that has previously been called into question. Buildings that have sustained major structural damage are, without a doubt, now uninhabitable. On the other hand, those with more minor damage can be repaired, although this requires thorough evaluation by trusted experts. Then, we have the widespread cosmetic damage, which many are mistakenly conflating with structural damage. While this type of damage can be fixed relatively easily, it obviously costly. From a scientific perspective, the 'swaying' of taller buildings was largely due to the amplified effects of the lake bed beneath the city. When seismic shear waves, which are particularly destructive, propagate through soft subsurface strata, their impact can become amplified in taller buildings. The resonance of the building's height often aligns with the seismic waves, causing the building to sway more intensely. This is further exacerbated by the 'swing effect,' where the building's own motion becomes amplified by the seismic forces. In contrast, while our house in central Bangkok did experience considerable shaking, with fixtures swaying and some items falling off shelves, the structure itself remained completely intact, with no signs of damage at all. It’s likely that low-rise buildings and houses experienced minimal, if any, damage. Perhaps the most noticeable issues would be minor cracks in plastering or rendering, which are typical after an event like this (its even typical when there is a construction project nearby !!) In essence, this was a quake that primarily impacted buildings of a certain height. The critical factors were the amplification effects of the soft soil beneath the city and the resonance of buildings with the seismic waves. And now, this event has given rise to a number of 'Thai bashers' - individuals who simply cannot resist the urge to criticise. However, their sociophonetic patterns betray their own fundamentally flawed standards of education. These individuals tend to project their biases, revealing a lack of understanding of the fundamental principles of the subject matter they are tripping over.