Thailand Prepares For Earthquakes

[tommyuk]

I had a couple of leg tremors and the earth moved for me in Soi Nana does that constitute anything ?

Edited June 26, 2010 by astral
No need to quote the entire post. Just pick out the relevant points, please - Astral

[astral]

anyone ever heard of an earthquake in Thailand? i was under the impression its never happened. fault lines don't just pop up.

There is a monitoring station at the base of Doi Suthep, just outside Chiang Mai.

If you buy a geological map you will see there are many fault lines in that region.

[gotlost]

Decdember 13, 2006 Chiang Mai 5.1 did no, zero zip nothing damage.

yah...tell that to my friend with his 35 million baht house... his pool cracked so bad that all the water ran out.. his rear entryway dropped about 1/2 in and there are still major cracks visible in his 14 foot high walls and ceilings....

35 million and not earthquake proff.

[techboy]

ya, thats why you don't build all of your structures out of concrete.

they are putting up a couple new 10 story dorms and a new hospital here in my town that are all formed concrete. a 5+ shake would take those down with everybody in it. lets hope this is just a stupid scare because all of Thailand is built with concrete.

anyone ever heard of an earthquake in Thailand? i was under the impression its never happened. fault lines don't just pop up.

EDIT: just finished reading that. there was a big quake 2000 years ago. lol.

In 1999 there was an extensive study of seismic activity performed in Northern Thailand. Furthermore anyone with a decent 9th grade education knows that 2000 years is barely a tic of the clock in geological time. You are actually using what you've said to ridicule and insinuate that it was an isolated event? LOL.

[Longtooth]

<br>There are about 200+ earthquakes every week.<br>Earthquakes have always been more commonplace than most people realise. The amount of earthquakes each week is quite amazing, particularly when you see them all marked out on a global map.<br><br>Take a look here...http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/<br>

<br><br>Except for the smudge on the left side of my screen I just made, I<b> really like</b> your avatar!<br><br><br>

[asiawatcher]

Decdember 13, 2006 Chiang Mai 5.1 did no, zero zip nothing damage.

yah...tell that to my friend with his 35 million baht house... his pool cracked so bad that all the water ran out.. his rear entryway dropped about 1/2 in and there are still major cracks visible in his 14 foot high walls and ceilings....

35 million and not earthquake proff.

Look at structural rules - there are none. Sand is hoisted from the seas and not desalted - cheaper that way and not as far to go for river sand. Steel reo rusts within the concrete. Look at Towers in the city - Omni in Soi 4 rings a bell, the entire shell exterior cracked within the 4 years of construction. Wall ties are not used between columns bearers so when they 'brick up' between the supports, everything can still move and does, especially if your house is situated near any main road. Trucks rumbling past shake the sh*t out of the foundations and cracks start. 6mm bar - sometimes chicken wire - is used when should be 10mm and so on. If the guys pool cracked - no wonder. 35M does not a strong structure buy. It is a movie prop! Designed to be removed at the end of a period! The building code in Thailand if it does exist - is easily avoided thus you don't need to wait for any earthquake, the place will fall down when it is good and ready!

Edited June 26, 2010 by asiawatcher

[invex]

I live in Thailand for 10 years now.

2008 was really bad with 3 or 4 major quakes.

I was at the 15e floor at a condo and it is really scaring. + 7 Richter quakes rattle a lot believe me. When it happens one cannot walk.

The worst was at Mae Rim and if I remember well it was 7.6 on the Richter.

The December 2006 was also quite spectacular in CM, will remember the rest of my life. The top of some buildings (Sheraton, now Holiday Inn) was moving half a meter. All mirrors broke and came down at the lobby.

I witnessed 5 or 6 with 4 being over 7 Richter. I never saw major damage as all the high buildings are quake-proof in Thailand.

Remember though, Chiang Mai was completely destroyed about 1.000 years ago by a major quake.

[samjaidee]

Decdember 13, 2006 Chiang Mai 5.1 did no, zero zip nothing damage.

yah...tell that to my friend with his 35 million baht house... his pool cracked so bad that all the water ran out.. his rear entryway dropped about 1/2 in and there are still major cracks visible in his 14 foot high walls and ceilings....

Are you serious? After three and a half years he hasn't filled the cracks in his walls and ceilings. "Major cracks" don't just disappear, even in Thailand. So, if they're still visible it's because he has bothered to repair them. He's Thai presumably. Lol

[zippydedodah]

Decdember 13, 2006 Chiang Mai 5.1 did no, zero zip nothing damage.

yah...tell that to my friend with his 35 million baht house... his pool cracked so bad that all the water ran out.. his rear entryway dropped about 1/2 in and there are still major cracks visible in his 14 foot high walls and ceilings....

35 million and not earthquake proff.

Look at structural rules - there are none. Sand is hoisted from the seas and not desalted - cheaper that way and not as far to go for river sand. Steel reo rusts within the concrete. Look at Towers in the city - Omni in Soi 4 rings a bell, the entire shell exterior cracked within the 4 years of construction. Wall ties are not used between columns bearers so when they 'brick up' between the supports, everything can still move and does, especially if your house is situated near any main road. Trucks rumbling past shake the sh*t out of the foundations and cracks start. 6mm bar - sometimes chicken wire - is used when should be 10mm and so on. If the guys pool cracked - no wonder. 35M does not a strong structure buy. It is a movie prop! Designed to be removed at the end of a period! The building code in Thailand if it does exist - is easily avoided thus you don't need to wait for any earthquake, the place will fall down when it is good and ready!

yes, he can afford the repairs and has made many....

FYI... i lived in SFO much of my life and experienced many an earthquake there, over the years. The areas of SF city proper that always suffered the most damage are the ones built on fill... so the marina area and lower market street, towards north beach... all filled areas, suffer the most damage... soft, shifting soil causes greater wave motion and most damage.

i rode out a big one sitting on top of the stockton street tunnel, which is solid rock, and the building did suffer a small 20' long crack, and rattled a bit, but nothing compared to the damage done elsewhere. Being on solid rock is your best choice it would see... and filled places, like much of BKK and Chiang Mai, can be really dangerous.

[AndyCherry]

FYI. I live near Srinikirind Dam in Kanchanaburi Province. It is a Rock Dam NOT Concrete. Thus if an earthquake should strike, providing it is not massive, the rocks will just move around a bit. The chances of the dam actually failing are minute although some damage may be caused to the Hydro Electric generation plant - fractured pipes etc. It is apparent that a fault line was taken into account with the design and construction. Therefore a panic that the Dam will burst is completely unfounded.

[gotlost]

I was in the 89 San Francisco World Series Quake. I was on the ground in a chemical plant next to the San Mateo Bridge. If that did not get your attention nothing will.

[xen]

Doesn't seem to me to make that much of a difference if the dam is built on the fault line or a 1/2 mile away, it's going to break,

There has been some serious investigation into the relationship between the building of large dams and movements in the earths plates. It appears there could be some correlation between the weight of the water being concentrated on a single area of the plates which can result in a lifting of the plates on the other side of the plate (rather like a see-saw ), sometimes a few hundred miles away. It is not conclusive that the weight of dams do this but it is chilling to think about the damming of some of the rivers in China. Apparently it is now considered far better to build a series of smaller dams to even out the pressure on the earths plates as well as it is better for flood control .

However , the building of huge dams as a monument to some politician will continue even if there is doubts as to how safe these dams are.

[EarthAlien]

<br>The government cant even get the flood problem under control, despite admitting it happens every year, pretty much like their English plan, they haven't got the basics right before progressing to other less important things like idioms and non-existent earthquakes.<br>A lot of study with little action, good for the politicians, bad for the people.<br>

<br><br>Exactly my thoughts,.. even if they were privvy to precise knowledge of when one would hit, where and how hard then they still wouldn't be able to do anything about it.<br><br>They'd be better trying to figure out how to hold a piss-up in  a brewery,- but even then I doubt that would go smoothly! <img class="bbc_emoticon" alt="" src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif"><br><br>BTW,.. Chiangmai did have a minor earthquake in March 2004 because I was staying on the 13th floor of the KSG hotel in Chiangmai and got shook out of bed at around 3am. Lasted around 15 seconds. No major damage,.. just a few cracks here and there and my nerves shaken a little as it was freaky! There were also a few minor tremors in 2005 here too,.. but nothing worthy of noting although that too did put a few cracks around the house and a couple of tiles went wonky.<br><br><br>

[isanbirder]

I live in Thailand for 10 years now.

2008 was really bad with 3 or 4 major quakes.

I was at the 15e floor at a condo and it is really scaring. + 7 Richter quakes rattle a lot believe me. When it happens one cannot walk.

The worst was at Mae Rim and if I remember well it was 7.6 on the Richter.

The December 2006 was also quite spectacular in CM, will remember the rest of my life. The top of some buildings (Sheraton, now Holiday Inn) was moving half a meter. All mirrors broke and came down at the lobby.

I witnessed 5 or 6 with 4 being over 7 Richter. I never saw major damage as all the high buildings are quake-proof in Thailand.

Remember though, Chiang Mai was completely destroyed about 1.000 years ago by a major quake.

There have certainly been no Richter 7s in Chiangmai in recent times. I think I remember a 6.1, but wasn't sure, so didn't put it in my previous post.

Chiangmai was founded in 1296, so cannot have been destroyed 'a thousand years ago'.

The major earthquake in Aceh which caused the famous tsunami was felt in Chiangmai, or so a neighbour told me. I was in Sarawak, and heard of it in Brunei that evening.

Edited June 26, 2010 by isanbirder

[hardy1943]

ya, thats why you don't build all of your structures out of concrete.

they are putting up a couple new 10 story dorms and a new hospital here in my town that are all formed concrete. even a small shake will take those down with everybody in it. lets hope this is just a stupid scare because all of Thailand is built with concrete.

anyone ever heard of an earthquake in Thailand? i was under the impression its never happened. fault lines don't just pop up.

there was one here in Nan a couple of years back but Nan never makes the news.

Had a few in Chiang Rai the one I felt the most was in the morning, bed was rocking and rolling , was not me and the wife, was about 30 minutes before tsunami hit Puckett but they said it center was in Burma.

Edited June 26, 2010 by hardy1943

[markinoc]

My father is an architect from California, specializing in earthquake resistant architecture. My degree is in construction supervision. I've lived through many big earthquakes in southern California, with minimal damage to my properties.

I've lived in Chiang Mai for 5 years. The engineering, or lack there of in Thailand will eventually lead to huge fatalities when the big quake does hit. sorry, but true. Hopefully not in my life time. Not just Thailand, but most of south east asia. Ironically, the safest buildings are the bamboo huts in the country.

Buildings made out of concrete need shear walls and steel reinforcing. Not just reinforce the posts and beams, and fill in the blanks with brick and mortar, as many homes are built.

The concrete companies should get better designs and engineering calculations from the US Uniform Building Code, or similar codes from Japan for a start. They could advertise earthquake safe construction!

The house that I am building in Chiang Mai will have reinforced concrete. It will stand, when others fall.

Good Luck

Edited June 26, 2010 by markinoc

[SiangDeeMahk]

Just curious.. some 1000-odd years ago, just what type of measuring device was being wielded by the day's "scientists" to accurately document the force of vibrations traveling through the crust of the planet? Petrified size-ordered oxen-balls suspended in a precisely calibrated natural latex hanging apparatus?

And if they DID manage to make useful, accurate scientific measurements using those "advanced" tools 1000 years ago, then just what the "Ef" were they using, 2000 years ago??? A striped bubble blown in a pool of monkey snot, sitting on a flat rock??

Come on Thailand. ENOUGH WITH THE HOCUS POCUS instead of REAL science.

As far as "fault lines" go, if you want to include the tiniest, most insignificant micro-cracks in the tectonic plates, then you can find "fault lines" just about everywhere on the face (and under the seas) of the entire planet.

This entire story is so replete with utter bunk and non-information (which is perfectly normal for a Thai Government study), it's not worth the electrons that were wasted in the making of it. "Scientific Thai Prediction" is an oxymoron. Like "Government Intelligence", "Giant Shrimp", or "Genuine Imitation".

Important fact #1: Many structures in Thailand are sub-standardly built out of un-reinforced prefabbed concrete. Certainly anything that was built 10 or more years ago (and probably lots of things built since then), are simply going to convert to dusty chunks of life-squashing rubble at the smallest of seismic provocations, faster than you can say "จากการเคลื่อนที่ของแผ่นเปลือกโลกทำให้เกิดแผ่นดินไหวขึ้นในบริเวณทะเลอันดามัน". You think Haiti was a disaster? Haiti was a bunch of 1 or 2 story shacks with weak walls and intentionally heavy (hurricane-resistant) roofs. If there was ever a serious seismic event in Bangkok? 15 - 30 floor concrete structures reduced to dusty pancaked tombs. The death toll will eclipse the Haiti losses even before the initial shockwave moves beyond the borders of the city. Although there aren't many tall buildings in other parts of Thailand (except a few giant resorts scattered around), the cheaply made concrete structures at any height are going to crumble to bits, wherever they are.

(even more) Important fact #2: You can't even really slam Thai Scientists for their lack of ability to adequately predict earthquakes. Why? Because currently.. NO ONE can really predict earthquakes! So it's not their fault that they cant do it, but it IS their fault that they CLAIM that they can!! Based on projections calculated from 2000 year old data no less, which is undoubtedly void of any scientifically obtained facts.

On a serious note though; we've all seen the omnipresent cracks in the concrete of Thailand. I'll die in my concrete-walled/floored/ceilinged apartment, just the same as millions and millions of others will, if and when a big (unpredictable) one hits.

Wow.. Making fun of "Thai Science" is like shooting bpla in a barrel. It's so easy, you almost feel guilty for doing it.

Then again, after watching a country attempt to defend itself againsts bomb attacks with a whip car-aerial sticking out of an empty plastic box (GT200), perhaps they need as much witty whistleblowing/mocking, as they can get.

[Replogle]

<BR>An major (or even a minor) earthquake situated anywhere in Thailand would be absolutely devastating.  Most newer homes are no longer built using the stilt-based methods, or the "Yai Homes" as the Wife and I call 'em, which I would presume to be safer than those made entirely out of concrete.  Planning for a disaster ahead-of-time is a prudent measure.<BR>

<BR><BR>I like the old fashioned Thai houses made from Timber, they have style to them. They have phased out building these type of houses because of the trememndous costs.<BR><BR>

Those older village type homes seem practical, too. The wood siding would be hard to find nowadays but maybe there's an alternative, like that recycled plastic particle wood mix westerners use for decking?

If the stilts have cross-members then I imagine they'd hold up well in both the shaker and roller type tremors.

[arthsch]

Cool blood, guys,

there is no reason for panic. perhaps the next quake will happen in 1000 years. also, wait and see

[SiriusBlack1]

So far, villages in Chiang Rai situated on a major fault line, which was hit by a 6.5 Richterscale quake 2,000 years ago, have been put in the highrisk category, though not yet earmarked for immediate evacuation.

Today's moment of zen.

[Just1Voice]

<br>

<br>

<br>As long as this plan is put into action I think it's a good idea. Doesn't seem to me to make that much of a difference if the dam is built on the fault line or a 1/2 mile away, it's going to break, although I'm not an engineer. I'm seriously considering a large building project, homes and schools, and I've already decided concrete is not going to be a part of the plan, other than pillars or something. An earthquake in or around Bangkok would be disastrous. This cheap design creates slums waiting to happen, or they might just fall before they get to chance. life is cheap, and consequence is not even in the budget.<br><br>just a quick edit here, reading about from those that have never heard of an earthquake in Thailand. Just yesterday walking home from the market, I was noticing just how many cracks in the buildings, and walls and gates etc. anything made of something that is not flexible has a crack. We don't feel everything the earth does, but take a look at the buildings. <i><b>what's with all the cracks?</b></i><br>

<br><br>Cheap concrete/cement used, along with cheap labor, so someone could put some extra money in their pockets.&nbsp; <br><br>Just for amusement, there really is a very old Buddhist text that "claims" that this year BKK will "sink beneath the ocean and be no more."&nbsp; Now THAT, IMHO, would be GREAT!&nbsp; Especially if ALL the politicians just happened to be sitting in Parliament when it does. lol <br><br>

<br><br>Fortunately you are only just one voice, and i find what that voice resonates quite disturbing. I have a lot of friends in Bangkok, and even if I didn't, the suffering would be hard to imagine. On the other hand, if everybody on the planet was taken right out of the picture, including you, and me of course, I wouldn't have a problem. But to say; let one area be destroyed because of the satisfaction or enjoyment you would get from the event is not something I would post. Do you really want people to think of you that way?  <img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif" class="bbc_emoticon" alt="<_<"><br>

<br><br><br><br>gr8fldanielle<br>Oh, please, don't take everything you read so seriously!!!  Try looking at things with a sense of humor sometimes.  Your blood pressure, and your heart, will thank you for it.<br>

[Jirapa]

<br>An major (or even a minor) earthquake situated anywhere in Thailand would be absolutely devastating.  Most newer homes are no longer built using the stilt-based methods, or the "Yai Homes" as the Wife and I call 'em, which I would presume to be safer than those made entirely out of concrete.  Planning for a disaster ahead-of-time is a prudent measure.<br>

<br>Nothings going to be safe if a dam bursts especially a few sticks on stilts. Building dams on fault lines is not solely a Thai trait it's global as profits always out way risks and many countries even the US build dams in areas at much higher risk. One story concrete houses mixed with steel and brick are probably your best bet in most natural disasters however anyone in a poorly built multi story car park or apartment block when a quake hits start praying!<br><br>

[JoeCard]

<BR>ya, thats why you don't build all of your structures out of concrete. <BR><BR>they are putting up a couple new 10 story dorms and a new hospital here in my town that are all formed concrete. a 5+ shake would take those down with everybody in it. lets hope this is just a stupid scare because all of Thailand is built with concrete.<BR><BR>anyone ever heard of an earthquake in Thailand? i was under the impression its never happened. fault lines don't just pop up.<BR><BR>EDIT: just finished reading that. there was a big quake 2000 years ago. lol.<BR>

<BR><BR>There is no problem with concrete provided the designers have a deep understanding of antiseismic design and strict controlof materials and execution is followed during construction.<BR>A good for example is the recent Chile's earthquake 8.8 richter, none of the buildings where these principles were applied suffered dameges of consideration includng many high rise buildings.<BR>As long as corruption and bad practice are not erradicated, no construction method will have real chances to withstand a serious earthquake.

[JetsetBkk]

Decdember 13, 2006 Chiang Mai 5.1 did no, zero zip nothing damage.

yah...tell that to my friend with his 35 million baht house... his pool cracked so bad that all the water ran out.. his rear entryway dropped about 1/2 in and there are still major cracks visible in his 14 foot high walls and ceilings....

35 million and not earthquake proff.

<snip>

35M does not a strong structure buy. It is a movie prop!

<snip>

"Movie prop" - good one!

I feel so sorry for the guy.

[Honolulu]

"Today, the Interior Minister of Thailand proclaimed a new response for Bangkok residents in case of any earthquake over 7.0 . "

He say's to bend over, place your head between your knees, and kiss your ass goodbye!

[Jirapa]

As long as this plan is put into action I think it's a good idea. Doesn't seem to me to make that much of a difference if the dam is built on the fault line or a 1/2 mile away, it's going to break, although I'm not an engineer. I'm seriously considering a large building project, homes and schools, and I've already decided concrete is not going to be a part of the plan, other than pillars or something. An earthquake in or around Bangkok would be disastrous. This cheap design creates slums waiting to happen, or they might just fall before they get to chance. life is cheap, and consequence is not even in the budget.

just a quick edit here, reading about from those that have never heard of an earthquake in Thailand. Just yesterday walking home from the market, I was noticing just how many cracks in the buildings, and walls and gates etc. anything made of something that is not flexible has a crack. We don't feel everything the earth does, but take a look at the buildings. what's with all the cracks?

Buildings get very hot from the sun and expand causing small cracks. Rain and cool mornings make the buildings shrink causing the cracks to close and break off small pieces of concrete. Rain gets into cracks which causes the steel in supports to corrode and expand, (Rust), which in turn cracks the concrete more so. This happens anywhere in the world but due to the general lack of home maintenance here it's more apparent. If a chunk of concrete falls on you in Bangkok no one cares but if concrete fall's and kills someone back home........ BIG lawsuit!

[trustdoc7]

<br />

<br />anyone ever heard of an earthquake in Thailand? i was under the impression its never happened. fault lines don't just pop up.<br /><br />EDIT: just finished reading that. there was a big quake 2000 years ago. lol.<br />

<br /><br />Yea, I think that was the one causing the giant Buddha foot print.   <img src='http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/jap.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':jap:' /><br />

<br /><br /><br />

[trustdoc7]

Maybe the same quake that made Mohammed's footprint, showcased in Istanbul... The tale has him as 8 ft. tall...

[cdnvic]

Some very informative reading on Thailand geology and fault lines:

http://www.dews-conference.org/upload/DMC/National_Seismic_Network_of_Thailand-5.pdf

http://eqtap.edm.bosai.go.jp/publications/EqTAP_ws/ws_4th/pdf/cd-rom/session_1/1_4_fujino/paper_1_4.pdf

[dasy]

There are about 200+ earthquakes every week.

Earthquakes have always been more commonplace than most people realise. The amount of earthquakes each week is quite amazing, particularly when you see them all marked out on a global map.

Take a look here...http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/

jnothing to do with this topic ThaiClan it took me a while to whack your insect off my screen...great one!!!