Who's still thinking of buying a high rise condo after the earthquake?

[Presnock]

2 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

Thaier than Thai (whatever that means) for calling out lies. He said there are videos showing structurally weakened buildings with compromised superstructures. I just asked to see them. If he has seen them it shouldn't be difficult to share the links as that is all I was asking.

Then the backtracking and the personal attacks....

Probably would be easier to find on Youtube, just search for this quake and local damage.  Heard a high rise on Sala Daeng BKK had to evacuated too due to damage.  If there was any damage then the govt wants experts????? to check them out for safety.

[dinsdale]

13 hours ago, StandardIssue said:

Now that this earthquake has hit it appears that many of the Bangkok high rise buildings have been structurally compromised and no longer sound. 

Best you support this with a link otherwise this is simply an emotive post based on absolutely no facts.

[robz]

37 minutes ago, robz said:

 

 

 

Date & Location	Magnitude	Deaths	Buildings Destroyed/Damaged	Notes
2004 – Indian Ocean (Sumatra)	9.1–9.3	~230,000 total	Millions affected; severe coastal destruction	Tsunami hit multiple countries; ~8,000 deaths in Thailand
2011 – Tōhoku, Japan	9.0	~19,300	>120,000 destroyed; ~278,000 damaged	Caused tsunami and Fukushima nuclear disaster
2010 – Haiti	7.0	~230,000–316,000	~250,000 homes & 30,000 commercial buildings	Devastated Port-au-Prince
2008 – Sichuan, China	7.9	~87,000	Millions of buildings destroyed or damaged	Massive destruction in mountainous areas
2001 – Gujarat, India	7.7	~20,000	>400,000 homes destroyed or damaged	Severely impacted Kutch region
1999 – İzmit, Turkey	7.4	~17,840	Tens of thousands of buildings collapsed	Widespread devastation in northwestern Turkey
2024 – Myanmar (Sagaing)	7.7	~1,600+ (total)	Significant infrastructure damage in Myanmar	Felt across Southeast Asia; at least 17 killed in Thailand
2024 – Thailand (impact)	???	17+?	Several buildings damaged; 30-story building collapsed in Bangkok	Myanmar quake caused damage in Thailand

 

Revised my post: There is conflicting information regarding the strength of the earthquake in Bangkok.
I couldn't find any specific values on the USGS website: https://earthquake.usgs.gov

[robz]

34 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

Only that there wasn't a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Thailand, it was 1200 km away in Myanmar

 

I revise my post: There is conflicting information regarding the strength of the earthquake in Bangkok.
I couldn't find any specific values on the USGS website: https://earthquake.usgs.gov

[jas007]

13 hours ago, StandardIssue said:

Now that this earthquake has hit it appears that many of the Bangkok high rise buildings have been structurally compromised and no longer sound. 

 

The superstructure of the buildings has been weakened as evidenced by the many videos showing foundation cracks and structure damage throughout the buildings. As per the usual Thai response to such things, it is more than likely the structures will not be reinforced to original tolerances but the cracks and damage simply smoothed over and hidden. In the event of another earthquake, high wind event or other phenomenon some buildings may not survive and suffer the fate of the Chatuchak Park construction site.

 

Are you still considering a condo purchase after the earthquake and why, now that the structures are compromised.

 

Me? No!!

I'd consider it, if the price was right.

 

But what's the right price?  Normally, it doesn't make much sense for an expat to buy a condo.  The numbers don't work out, no matter how you do the calculations.  But on occasion, maybe a purchase would be OK.

 

I remember back when they had the Asian financial crisis in 1998. Foreign currencies were soaring, and the Thai condo market was in the dumps.  Expats with foreign currencies  buying then probably got a deal. 

 

 

[Stocky]

5 minutes ago, robz said:

 

I revise my post: There is conflicting information regarding the strength of the earthquake in Bangkok.
I couldn't find any specific values on the USGS website: https://earthquake.usgs.gov

Your comparison is largely nonsensical, beyond the fact Bangkok was over 1,000km from the epicentre, the Richter scale is logarithmic, so a magnitude 9 earthquake is a 1000 times more powerful than a magnitude 7.

[Don Giovanni]

Definitely not me.

 

I wouldn't even stay in a high rise hotel or visit a rooftop bar there anymore.

 

Much safer in Kobe.

 

The Don.

[robz]

21 minutes ago, Stocky said:

Your comparison is largely nonsensical, beyond the fact Bangkok was over 1,000km from the epicentre, the Richter scale is logarithmic, so a magnitude 9 earthquake is a 1000 times more powerful than a magnitude 7.

 

---

Appreciate the attempt, but let’s not mix things up. Yes, the Richter scale is logarithmic — but in terms of amplitude, not energy. A magnitude 9 quake is 10 times stronger in amplitude than a magnitude 8, and 100 times stronger than a magnitude 7. When it comes to energy release, each step is roughly 32 times more, so a magnitude 9 releases about 1,000 times the energy of a 7 — not because 10³ = 1,000, but because 32² ≈ 1,000.

Also, citing the 1,000 km distance as if it’s a magical safety radius ignores real-world examples. Bangkok experienced structural damage and even a high-rise collapse — which suggests the seismic waves did more than gently rock a chandelier.

 

---

Mods edit: I have removed the parts that are not in English from the post, as I did not want to remove the full post.

[Stocky]

26 minutes ago, robz said:

Also, citing the 1,000 km distance as if it’s a magical safety radius

Who said anything about a magical safety radius?

 

My point was you posted a list of earthquakes of magnitude 9.4 down to 7.7 as if there were simply comparable, which they aren't.

 

Then the factor of the distance from the epicentre determines, to a large extent, the chance of damage, the further away the lesser the likelihood of damage or casualties. But the underlying geology is a significant factor, in the case of Bangkok this is unconsolidated coastal marine and lagoon sediments, unconsolidated sediments serve to amplify the ground motion. Which is the reason an earthquake over 1000km away was still damaging.

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, robz said:

I revise my post: There is conflicting information regarding the strength of the earthquake in Bangkok.
I couldn't find any specific values on the USGS website: https://earthquake.usgs.gov

 

The values are reported in MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) and can be correlated to a Local Magnitude (ML) equivalent.

 

[Presnock]

1 hour ago, Presnock said:

Probably would be easier to find on Youtube, just search for this quake and local damage.  Heard a high rise on Sala Daeng BKK had to evacuated too due to damage.  If there was any damage then the govt wants experts????? to check them out for safety.

also, in CM yesterday, at 4 PM a 5.5 aftershock fm MYANMAR also hit CM attt 5,5 and reportedly, one can see that the high rise condo across from Central Festival mall has structural damage  from the ground all the way to the top so needs to have expert check it out.  ots of condos there!

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

1 hour ago, Presnock said:

Even Chiang Mai, the tall condo building opposite central festival shows crack up every side and has been evacuated.  Do folks that buy those highrise condos get earthquake insurance? If so has nay company paid off on a claim/claims?  Just wondering seeing the cost and then the government condemns the bldg!

 

I think most juristic entities take out property insurance for the building and any other common property of a condominium development. Thai insurers do offer property "all-risks" insurance policies that include the peril of earthquake. Any juristic entity that did not take out such a policy would be negligent.

 

Individual unit owners can take out homeowners' insurance that includes earthquake coverage. Some do, some don't.

 

Insurers in Thailand rely heavily on offshore reinsurance for catastrophic perils like earthquake, flood and windstorm. How well and how quickly some of the claims get paid may depend upon the adequacy of each insurer's loss reserves and the nature of their reinsurance agreements.

 

I'm wondering what the OIC may say about this event as I expect there will be questions.

[richard_smith237]

49 minutes ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

 

I think most juristic entities take out property insurance for the building and any other common property of a condominium development. Thai insurers do offer property "all-risks" insurance policies that include the peril of earthquake. Any juristic entity that did not take out such a policy would be negligent.

 

Individual unit owners can take out homeowners' insurance that includes earthquake coverage. Some do, some don't.

 

Insurers in Thailand rely heavily on offshore reinsurance for catastrophic perils like earthquake, flood and windstorm. How well and how quickly some of the claims get paid may depend upon the adequacy of each insurer's loss reserves and the nature of their reinsurance agreements.

 

I'm wondering what the OIC may say about this event as I expect there will be questions.

 

Thats good to know... I wondered if any such policies would have a Force Majeuer clause rending such coverage moot.

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

12 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Thats good to know... I wondered if any such policies would have a Force Majeuer clause rending such coverage moot.

 

Earthquake is an insurable peril, although coverage can be limited or more expensive in some high risk areas due to lack of insurance capacity.

 

So far, most insurers in Thailand have offered property insurance including earthquake coverage up to the full value of the sum insured for buildings and contents. We'll see if Friday's event changes that in the future.

 

 

 

 

[worgeordie]

Up here in Chiang Mai ,after the quake ,the hotel where my daughter

works was full up with people from Condo's , afraid to go back in case

of aftershocks ,I did not ask her but I bet they were asking for rooms

on the lower floors.

 

regards worgeordie

[josephbloggs]

7 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Up here in Chiang Mai ,after the quake ,the hotel where my daughter

works was full up with people from Condo's , afraid to go back in case

of aftershocks ,I did not ask her but I bet they were asking for rooms

on the lower floors.

 

regards worgeordie

How would a room on a lower floor help you if something happens?

[worgeordie]

Just now, josephbloggs said:

How would a room on a lower floor help you if something happens?

You can get out easier , and it's better than sleeping outside ,what would

you do ? 

 

regards Worgeordie

[KhunLA]

9 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

How would a room on a lower floor help you if something happens?

quick exit

[josephbloggs]

3 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

quick exit

Yeah. I was thinking more about a collapse.

[Kinnock]

3 hours ago, robz said:

 

I revise my post: There is conflicting information regarding the strength of the earthquake in Bangkok.
I couldn't find any specific values on the USGS website: https://earthquake.usgs.gov

The Myanmar quake was so far from Bangkok there should have been no damage.  I was just South of Bangkok and didn't feel a thing.  But Bangkok is built on soft, wet mud, so is uniquely susceptible to earthquakes hundreds of kilometres away.  Chiang Mai was much closer but seemed to have less damage to buildings.

 

So a huge earthquake along the same fault, but further South in Myanmar could cause even more damage in Bangkok.

 

I think not buying a high rise condo in Bangkok is just being wise. 

[josephbloggs]

Just now, Kinnock said:

The Myanmar quake was so far from Bangkok there should have been no damage.  I was just South of Bangkok and didn't feel a thing.  But Bangkok is built on soft, wet mud, so is uniquely susceptible to earthquakes hundreds of kilometres away.  Chiang Mai was much closer but seemed to have less damage to buildings.

 

So a huge earthquake along the same fault, but further South in Myanmar could cause even more damage in Bangkok.

 

I think not buying a high rise condo in Bangkok is just being wise. 

I am in Bangkok (a house, not a high rise) and I definitely felt it - I found it hard to balance, lights were swinging and my car was rocking on its suspension, trees swaying.

So saying there should have been no damage is ridiculous. It was strong.

I still maintain Bangkok fared pretty well considering how unusual this was and how strong it was.

[Kinnock]

19 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

I am in Bangkok (a house, not a high rise) and I definitely felt it - I found it hard to balance, lights were swinging and my car was rocking on its suspension, trees swaying.

So saying there should have been no damage is ridiculous. It was strong.

I still maintain Bangkok fared pretty well considering how unusual this was and how strong it was.

I think you misunderstood my post .... if Bangkok was not built on a bog, then based on its distance from the quake, there would be minimal or zero damage.  I was just far enough from Bangkok to be on firmer ground, and felt nothing at all.  The unstable land magnified the risk.  

 

The location of Bangkok on unstable ground is the issue.

[josephbloggs]

25 minutes ago, Kinnock said:

I think you misunderstood my post .... if Bangkok was not built on a bog, then based on its distance from the quake, there would be minimal or zero damage.  I was just far enough from Bangkok to be on firmer ground, and felt nothing at all.  The unstable land magnified the risk.  

 

The location of Bangkok on unstable ground is the issue.

Ah, I see what you meant.

[StandardIssue]

22 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

Can you share some links to these videos showing structural damage or "superstructure damage" of the many high rise buildings that have been weakened? (Aside from the six that were declared unsafe by the BMA).

There are literally hundreds of videos from condo dwellers on Facebook showing condition of their respective condos exterior and interior. My Facebook feed is full of condo condition "reels"

[josephbloggs]

12 minutes ago, StandardIssue said:

There are literally hundreds of videos from condo dwellers on Facebook showing condition of their respective condos exterior and interior. My Facebook feed is full of condo condition "reels"

Yes, mostly superficial - tiles in corridors, ceiling panels coming off, wall cracks.

Where are the videos of weakened superstructures or structural damage? Is it so difficult for someone to link to one?

[StandardIssue]

1 minute ago, josephbloggs said:

Yes, mostly superficial - tiles in corridors, ceiling panels coming off, wall cracks.

Where are the videos of weakened superstructures or structural damage? Is it so difficult for someone to link to one?

 

You're not looking very closely I would wager.

[josephbloggs]

18 minutes ago, StandardIssue said:

 

You're not looking very closely I would wager.

So another one who can't give a link.

I give up.

You all claim it, no one can show me one of these videos that they've seen.

[StandardIssue]

46 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

So another one who can't give a link.

I give up.

You all claim it, no one can show me one of these videos that they've seen.

Conduct your own due diligence. This thread is asking will you buy or not. Not here to prove to someone (who may be in the BKK real estate business) what is obvious. Nobody here has to prove anything to you. I know one thing. I won't be buying any condos in BKK without knowing that the building has been thoroughly evaluated for structural soundness by a qualified engineer. And given the scope of work that will need to be done, it is doubtful, that inspections in  BKK will be done by actually qualified personnel.  TIT

[hotsun]

Whats the true worth of property in thailand, likely 1/10th of what its selling for

[Presnock]

15 hours ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

 

I think most juristic entities take out property insurance for the building and any other common property of a condominium development. Thai insurers do offer property "all-risks" insurance policies that include the peril of earthquake. Any juristic entity that did not take out such a policy would be negligent.

 

Individual unit owners can take out homeowners' insurance that includes earthquake coverage. Some do, some don't.

 

Insurers in Thailand rely heavily on offshore reinsurance for catastrophic perils like earthquake, flood and windstorm. How well and how quickly some of the claims get paid may depend upon the adequacy of each insurer's loss reserves and the nature of their reinsurance agreements.

 

I'm wondering what the OIC may say about this event as I expect there will be questions.

Yeah news this AM says some 6000 bldgs in BKK show some damage, Also read that the juristic whatevers are responsible for inspection of anything over a certain number of floors (8 I think) but then yesteday's in CM area/province seemed to damage a lot of OLD wats!  Thailand lucky so far I guess, just the chaos in the streets just after the quake.