Earthquake Warning

[Kan Win]

Post this here as it is Central Thailand related and since I live there as well.

In The Nation – Today 25.01.2006

The Nation

Earthquake Warning: Srinakarin Dam at risk of bursting

Published on January 25, 2006

Structure built on fault line; trembler ‘would cause flooding in 13 provinces’

Three studies have concluded that the Srinakarin Dam in Kanchanaburi is built on a fault line and may burst in a powerful earthquake.

A rupture would cause flooding in 13 provinces, including Bangkok, Thamrong Thawatchaipracha, an engineer who helped build the dam, said yesterday.

He revealed the findings at a seminar on the risk of a disaster at the dam. “Within five hours the flood would arrive in Kanchanaburi’s Muang district,” he said.

Numerous Bangkok districts would then be flooded within 35 hours, including Bangkok Noi, Bang Khunthien, Chom Thong, Phasi Charoen, Rat Burana, Taling Chan and Thon Buri, he said.

Thamrong’s pride in the dam’s construction has been replaced by regret, he said.

“I was confident about the construction’s high standards and ignored warnings the dam was on a fault line,” Thamrong said.

When his team took charge of building the dam he did not consider the possibility of an earthquake in Kanchanaburi, he added.

He became aware of the problem only after the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat), now Egat Plc, commissioned three companies from the United States, Sweden and Canada to evaluate the risk an earthquake could pose.

“Their findings were the same,” he said. Each study concluded the province could suffer an earthquake of up to 8.0 on the Richter scale, he said.

The dam is designed to withstand an earthquake of up to 7.5, provided its epicentre is at least 250 kilometres away, Thamrong told the seminar.

After learning about the three studies, he urged Egat to upgrade safety measures at the dam, but has not heard of any being made, he said.

Dr Panya Jarusiri, a geologist at Chulalongkorn University, told the seminar: “We have to improve the early-warning system in Kanchanaburi and prepare an evacuation plan.”

Kwaen Seetathani, a senior Egat executive, said the company would increase safety checks at the dam.

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evacuation plan

Hope they tell us very soon what it is.

Yours truly,

Kan Win

[Backpack_thailand]

“I was confident about the construction’s high standards and ignored warnings the dam was on a fault line,” Thamrong said.

Priceless...!!!

[Jai Dee]

This article was posted yesterday...

KHUNYING SUDARAT AFFIRMS THAT SRINAKHARIN DAM WILL NOT SUFFER DAMAGE

The Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister, KHUNYING SUDARAT KEYURAPHAN (สุดารัตน์ เกยุราพันธ์), has affirmed that Srinakharin Dam (ศรีนครินทร์) is still strong enough. She stated that it is very unlikely for the dam to fracture, but she will call for more cooperation from geologists, in order to study the dam's tendency to crack.

As some academics earlier predicted that Srinakharin Dam might collapse from a possible earthquake, measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale, KHUNYING SUDARAT responded that it was only a forecast made by geologists. She said that she has not been reported about the possibility of the dam’s damage. Nevertheless, she has assigned concerned officials and units, including geologists and Royal Irrigation Department officials, to check its warning system for further indication.

She said that her ministry always observe the dams nationwide, to monitor and prevent any possible damage. Should geologists find any sign of breakage, they must notify this information to relevant officials as soon as possible, to seek further solutions.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 25 January 2006

[sriracha john]

More fall-out from people finding fault with building a big dam on a fault line:

Dam warning scares tourists

Many tourists cancelled trips to Kanchanaburi yesterday because of fears about the risk of a large dam bursting near the resort town. The cancellations followed news reports yesterday after experts told a seminar on Tuesday the Srinakarin Dam was located on an active fault. They said a powerful earthquake could burst the dam and flood 13 provinces.

One tourism operator said that resorts and hotels in Kanchanaburi were swamped with calls yesterday as tourists rang to cancel reservations.

Another source said some Kanchanaburi residents have already packed their belongings as a precaution – in case they need to flee in the event of a quake causing the dam to collapse.

Pinan Chatiros-seranee, who chairs the Kanchanaburi Conservation Group, said the public needed to be informed of the risk as it might affect their lives. “By being informed, they will know how they should prepare themselves,” she said.

At the same time, experts urged the government to admit there was a risk – instead of trying to downplay the threat again.

“Don’t try to downplay the risk by giving incorrect information to the public,” said Dr Penneung Wanijchai, a seismologist at the Asian Institute of Technology.

He said that the Natural Resources and Environment Minister Yongyuth Tiyapairat had given incorrect assurances to the public that the Srinakarin Dam was strong and would be able to cope with the effects from earthquakes.

By trying to publicise the fact that the dam had withstood an earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale in 1983, Penneung said Yongyuth failed to point out the fact that the situation could have been much different – if the quake took place just 10 kilometres nearer to the dam.

“What we have tried to point out is that the dam may collapse if a powerful earthquake occurs. We want the government to prepare necessary measures,” Penneung said.

[sriracha john]

KHUNYING SUDARAT AFFIRMS THAT SRINAKHARIN DAM WILL NOT SUFFER DAMAGE

The Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister, KHUNYING SUDARAT KEYURAPHAN (สุดารัตน์ เกยุราพันธ์), has affirmed that Srinakharin Dam (ศรีนครินทร์) is still strong enough.

Not that she has any credibility or believability problems...

BUT...

this is all brought to you by the same person, who almost 2 years ago to the day and in her former role as Public Health Minister, proclaimed finally that Thailand had, indeed, bird flu cases... after had denying it for weeks and weeks:

Published on Jan 22, 2004

Three people are being treated for a pneumonialike illness suspected to be avian flu, Public Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan said yesterday.

It was the first official recognition that the disease might have broached the Kingdom’s borders, following mass deaths of local chickens that authorities blamed on cholera and bronchitis.