Earthquake In Chiang Mai 'not Hazardous'

[george]

Earthquake in Chiang Mai 'Not Hazardous'

CHIANG MAI: -- The Mineral Resource Department's Director General Apichai Chawacharoenpan together with a natural resource specialist Worawut Tantiwanich met with Chiang Mai local residents and press at the Mae Rim district office in Chiang Mai Friday to clarify and give information on earthquakes.

'The recent earthquake on last year's December 13th which was measured at 5.6 Richter was not hazardous to humans and the core structure of any buildings. It can be categorized as just a medium earthquake. Earthquakes in Thailand are regarded as less hazardous when compared to those which have occurred in Japan and elsewhere," explained Worawut.

Last December 13th's earthquake, which was followed with 40 serial aftershocks from the 13th to the 15th was caused by the Maetha fault and could be felt by residents in several districts in Chiang Mai including Mae Rim, San Sai, Hang Dong, Sankamphaeng, Doi Saket and Muang district and some neighboring districts of Lamphun and Chiang Rai.

"However, the earthquake and its serial aftershocks did not leave much damage to the affected areas," said the director general. "Earthquakes happen quite often but at a degree that can't be felt by human beings. Residents should not be too scared or worried about this natural phenomenon but should understand why it happens," continued the Director General.

-- City Life 2007-01-12

[george]

Fear no quakes,Chiang Mai is told

CHIANG MAI: -- Last month's earthquake that sent frightened residents fleeing out of wobbling buildings was not strong enough to cause any major destruction, and nothing dangerous is coming in the near future, authorities said yesterday.

"The earthquake on December 13, which measured 5.6 on the Richter scale, was not hazardous to humans or the core structure of any buildings. It can be categorised as just a medium earthquake. Earthquakes in Thailand are less hazardous than those in Japan, for instance," said Worawut Tantiwanich, a natural-resource specialist.

He and Apichai Chawacharoenpan, director-general of the Mineral Resources Department, met residents and the press at the Mae Rim district office to talk about seismic activity.

The tremor, which was followed by 40 serial aftershocks until December 15, was caused by the Maetha fault and could be felt by residents in the Mae Rim, San Sai, Hang Dong, Sankamphaeng, Doi Saket and Muang districts in Chiang Mai and neighbouring districts in Lamphun and Chiang Rai.

"However, the earthquake and its serial aftershocks did not cause much damage to the affected areas," Worawut said. "Earthquakes happen quite often but seldom of an intensity such as to be felt by human beings. Residents should not be too scared or worried about this natural phenomenon and should understand why it happens."

Thailand has 13 quake faults spread mainly across the North - Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Phayao and Tak - the West and lower West, according to the Mineral Resources Department.

All these areas have the potential to generate earthquakes since the tectonic plates move all the time.

"Since 1978, Chiang Mai and especially Mae Rim and San Sai districts have been hit by 33 earthquakes' the most powerful in 1995 and 2006 at 5.2 and 5.6," Apichai said.

-- Citylife 2007-01-13

[Ricardo]

Fear no quakes,Chiang Mai is told

CHIANG MAI: -- Last month's earthquake that sent frightened residents fleeing out of wobbling buildings was not strong enough to cause any major destruction, and nothing dangerous is coming in the near future, authorities said yesterday.

One wonders what possible source they might have - to enable them to forcast the future - with such confidence? Could this technique also be applied to learning the winning numbers in the state-lottery ?

"The earthquake on December 13, which measured 5.6 on the Richter scale, was not hazardous to humans or the core structure of any buildings. It can be categorised as just a medium earthquake. Earthquakes in Thailand are less hazardous than those in Japan, for instance," said Worawut Tantiwanich, a natural-resource specialist.

First it was 4.9, then 5.1 for a couple of weeks, now our pre-Christmas quake is promoted to 5.6, on the Richter Scale. Amazing escalating Thailand, indeed !

[The Dan Sai Kid]

Fear no quakes,Chiang Mai is told

CHIANG MAI: -- Last month's earthquake that sent frightened residents fleeing out of wobbling buildings was not strong enough to cause any major destruction, and nothing dangerous is coming in the near future, authorities said yesterday.

One wonders what possible source they might have - to enable them to forcast the future - with such confidence? Could this technique also be applied to learning the winning numbers in the state-lottery ?

"The earthquake on December 13, which measured 5.6 on the Richter scale, was not hazardous to humans or the core structure of any buildings. It can be categorised as just a medium earthquake. Earthquakes in Thailand are less hazardous than those in Japan, for instance," said Worawut Tantiwanich, a natural-resource specialist.

First it was 4.9, then 5.1 for a couple of weeks, now our pre-Christmas quake is promoted to 5.6, on the Richter Scale. Amazing escalating Thailand, indeed !

Don't you trust your friendly, local Thai official?

The government has probably banned earthquakes - so there is nothing to worry about!

[cdnvic]

Small quakes are a good thing as it shows everything is moving along fine. It's when plates lock and store up energy that you need to worry.

BTW Ricardo that font is eye straining

[Ajarn]

Small quakes are a good thing as it shows everything is moving along fine. It's when plates lock and store up energy that you need to worry.

BTW Ricardo that font is eye straining

Yeah, it sounds good, but it's definately not true. Fault lines are long, and an earthquake can happen at any point, and at any point in time.

Edited January 14, 2007 by Ajarn

[cdnvic]

Small quakes are a good thing as it shows everything is moving along fine. It's when plates lock and store up energy that you need to worry.

BTW Ricardo that font is eye straining

Yeah, it sounds good, but it's definately not true. Fault lines are long, and an earthquake can happen at any point, and at any point in time.

Yes, and according to NASA, The US Geological Survey, Canadian Geological Survey, and the University of Washington, the stored energy of a locked plate on a slip-strike fault such as the Mae Yuam fault running through northern Thailand has more potential for a severe quake than a freely moving fault. Subduction quakes are a different thing but this isn't that type of fault line. A slip fault that is moving (hence small, frequent quakes) is not storing energy and its alot better to know it's moving.

[Ricardo]

Small quakes are a good thing as it shows everything is moving along fine. It's when plates lock and store up energy that you need to worry.

BTW Ricardo that font is eye straining

Agreed, Sorry , it looked OK through the hang-over. Promise not to use it again.

[Ajarn]

Small quakes are a good thing as it shows everything is moving along fine. It's when plates lock and store up energy that you need to worry.

BTW Ricardo that font is eye straining

Yeah, it sounds good, but it's definately not true. Fault lines are long, and an earthquake can happen at any point, and at any point in time.

Yes, and according to NASA, The US Geological Survey, Canadian Geological Survey, and the University of Washington, the stored energy of a locked plate on a slip-strike fault such as the Mae Yuam fault running through northern Thailand has more potential for a severe quake than a freely moving fault. Subduction quakes are a different thing but this isn't that type of fault line. A slip fault that is moving (hence small, frequent quakes) is not storing energy and its alot better to know it's moving.

More nonsense.. How is one to know if any fault is moving enough to make it safe? Or not safe?? There is only speculation on this issue. I grew up on the san andreas fault, and my town used to map earthquakes at about 130 per week from the various faults around Marin county, California. Enough to make it safe, you might say??

Edited January 15, 2007 by Ajarn