Measures needed to prevent damage from quakes

BANGKOK: -- A leading seismologist Thursday called on the government to map out measures against damage from future earthquakes in light of Wednesday's 6.1 magnitude quake in Laos and northern Thailand.

Pennueng Wanitchai, a seismologist of the Asian Institute of Technology, said the fault line in Myanmar caused small earthquakes in the Golden Triangle areas, connecting Laos, Myanmar and Thailand before the

6.1 magnitude earthquake occurred about 700 kms from Bangkok.

The tremor was felt in the capital as it lies on soft soil, which can extend the severity of an earthquake three times, he said.

Such tremor was however not dangerous, he said, adding that he was worrisome about fault lines near the capital such as the Sakaing fault in the Andaman sea, 400 kms from Bangkok or the Three Pagoda fault zone and the Srisawat fault in Kanchanaburi, 200 kms from Bangkok.

If these fault lines trigger a powerful earthquake, it will have a massive impact on Bangkok, he said.

Although it will not happen soon, preventive measures are needed, he added. Studies on these faults must be done and ministerial regulations must be issued to enforce designing buildings to withstand major seismic events.

He said the issue has been under consideration by the Office of the Council of State for a year.

Smith Tumsaroch, advisor to Information and Communication Technology Minister, said cracks were found on the building of the Customs Department's northern office in Chiang Rai province and tiles

fell from its roof. Some cracks were also found at hospital buildings in the province.

Meanwhile, a Royal Irrigation Department spokesman said officials were inspecting any damage that might occur at dams.

It is believed that there is no damage to the dams because they were designed to resist to an earthquake, measuring at seven on the Richter scale. There have been no reports of damage so far.

Culture Minister Khunying Khaisri Sriaroon said she ordered a renovation of the 500-year old Chomkitti pagoda after Wednesday's earthquake caused damage to the top of the pagoda which broke off and fell down.

Meanwhile, the Fine Arts Department is conducting surveys at other historical sites in the North to evaluate the damage.

--TNA 2007-05-17

Measures needed to prevent damage from quakes

BANGKOK: -- A leading seismologist Thursday called on the government to map out measures against damage from future earthquakes in light of Wednesday's 6.1 magnitude quake in Laos and northern Thailand.

Pennueng Wanitchai, a seismologist of the Asian Institute of Technology, said the fault line in Myanmar caused small earthquakes in the Golden Triangle areas, connecting Laos, Myanmar and Thailand before the

6.1 magnitude earthquake occurred about 700 kms from Bangkok.

The tremor was felt in the capital as it lies on soft soil, which can extend the severity of an earthquake three times, he said.

Such tremor was however not dangerous, he said, adding that he was worrisome about fault lines near the capital such as the Sakaing fault in the Andaman sea, 400 kms from Bangkok or the Three Pagoda fault zone and the Srisawat fault in Kanchanaburi, 200 kms from Bangkok.

If these fault lines trigger a powerful earthquake, it will have a massive impact on Bangkok, he said.

Although it will not happen soon, preventive measures are needed, he added. Studies on these faults must be done and ministerial regulations must be issued to enforce designing buildings to withstand major seismic events.

He said the issue has been under consideration by the Office of the Council of State for a year.

Smith Tumsaroch, advisor to Information and Communication Technology Minister, said cracks were found on the building of the Customs Department's northern office in Chiang Rai province and tiles

fell from its roof. Some cracks were also found at hospital buildings in the province.

Meanwhile, a Royal Irrigation Department spokesman said officials were inspecting any damage that might occur at dams.

It is believed that there is no damage to the dams because they were designed to resist to an earthquake, measuring at seven on the Richter scale. There have been no reports of damage so far.

Culture Minister Khunying Khaisri Sriaroon said she ordered a renovation of the 500-year old Chomkitti pagoda after Wednesday's earthquake caused damage to the top of the pagoda which broke off and fell down.

Meanwhile, the Fine Arts Department is conducting surveys at other historical sites in the North to evaluate the damage.

--TNA 2007-05-17

Get the Japanese involved, best engineering for earthquakes done by them

Agreed, get Japanese constructors.

Experienced the previous earthquake in CM - was it Dec? Was on 11th floor and boy did we feel it!

It actually put me off even considering to buy the flat I was in. Was nice flat with great view across the city and doi suthep but... how safe was the building. At the time looked into it and they had a law in 1995 or 1997 to tighten building regulations in general and earthquake safety in particular. Whether it was implemented by constructors is another matter.

I've actually experienced the same kinda level quake in Tokyo and just somehow felt safer. A trick of the mind perhaps!

rych

Glad I don't live in a high rise Condo........if a quake occurs they will come a tumblin' down.......

The quote, or part of it was:- " A leading seismologist Thursday called on the government to map out measures against damage from future earthquakes in light of Wednesday's 6.1 magnitude quake in Laos and northern Thailand"

Now of all those experts out there, of which I'm sure there are many, I was not aware that techology has progressed sufficiently anywhere in the world to actually acheive that statement. Every earthquake, well at least of reasonable strength, causes some damage somewhere to something.

It may well of course be poor translation but it would have been better to call on the governement to map out measures to mitigate the degree of damage from future quakes. I understand that even the Japanese have an upper bound limit of earthquake strength to which their buildings and other constructions can withstand a quake without major structural damage but I am not aware that they have the means to prevent ANY damage as this leading seismologist is suggesting as implied by the unspecified level of damage limitation.

So....has there been any appreciable damage from earthquakes in Thailand?....not counting the tsunami that is.

If there has been no appreciable damage so far then what is the fuss?.....and I don't count damage to 500 year old poorly maintained buildings...nor do I count some unspecified cracks or loose roof tiles.

RID to keep an eye of earthquake aftershocks

The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) is examining reservoirs across the country as it is afraid that aftershocks may occur after the earthquake eruption on May 16th.

RID Spokesman Boonsanong Suchartphong (บุญสนอง สุชาติพงศ์) says the earthquake which took place at the Thai-Lao-Myanmar border has prompted many sides to be concerned over the condition of the reservoirs. Latest inspection conducted by RID shows that no damage has been found, including water leakages and cracks. However, RID has instructed directors of irrigation projects nationwide to thoroughly examine the reservoirs again in terms of subsidence and sliding of the reservoirs as well as their internal condition.

RID affirms it will keep observing the reservoirs around the clock due to possible aftershocks. People are encouraged to contact the department for more information about the safety of reservoirs in their area.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 18 May 2007

RID to keep an eye of earthquake aftershocks

The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) is examining reservoirs across the country as it is afraid that aftershocks may occur after the earthquake eruption on May 16th.

RID Spokesman Boonsanong Suchartphong (บุญสนอง สุชาติพงศ์) says the earthquake which took place at the Thai-Lao-Myanmar border has prompted many sides to be concerned over the condition of the reservoirs. Latest inspection conducted by RID shows that no damage has been found, including water leakages and cracks. However, RID has instructed directors of irrigation projects nationwide to thoroughly examine the reservoirs again in terms of subsidence and sliding of the reservoirs as well as their internal condition.

RID affirms it will keep observing the reservoirs around the clock due to possible aftershocks. People are encouraged to contact the department for more information about the safety of reservoirs in their area.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 18 May 2007

Appears to be a very prudent measure under the curcumstances and will help to enlarge the historical database of effects, or otherwise, from varying quake strengths in Thailand for future consideration within design and construction codes and standards.

Something about "stable doors and running horses" comes to mind.

Shouldn't this have been considered before all the high rise buildings went up over the last 30 years??