Bangkok Not Yet On Earthquake Risk List

[george]

Bangkok not yet on earthquake risk list

BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Interior's Department of Public Works and Town and Planning (DPT) has confirmed that Thailand's capital is not on the government's list of areas at risk from earthquakes.

The department said although some people in Bangkok had reported feeling earth tremors on Sunday, no buildings in the capital had even received cracks.

Patients on the upper floors of Charoenpracharak Hospital were taken to the ground floor after reporting that the building was shaking, but no damage occurred.

The department has an earthquake risk list of 10 provinces - Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Chiang Rai, Phrae, Nan, Phayao, Lampang, Lamphun, Tak and Kanchanaburi.

A senior official conceded that a number of academics were voicing fears that Bangkok was also at risk, but said that the final decision on whether or not to include Bangkok on the list rested with the DPT.

However, he said that most buildings in the capital were already constructed with a high safety factor in mind, and that they could withstand minor earth tremors.

--TNA 2004-12-28