Thailand's northern dams unaffected by earthquake

[webfact]

Northern dams unaffected by earthquake



TAK, May 6 - Thailand's biggest concrete arch dam, the Bhumibol Dam, remains strong following Monday's 6.3-magnitude earthquake in the northern region which sparked concern among local residents over its anti-earthquake capacity, while the acting transport minister today ordered closure of a quake-damaged highway for repairs.

Bhumibol Dam director Pisut Chokekotwat in Tak province reaffirmed that the arch dam has not been affected by the Chiang Rai earthquake in Phan istrict.

He said that the dam was designed to handle earthquakes to up to 7.5 Richter, adding that the dam is also 350 kilometres away from Chiang Rai.

Electricity distribution is operated as normal for local residents around the dam, Pisut said.

Somwang Pansuksan, chief of maintenance staff for the Kwainoi Bamrungdaen Dam in Phitsanulok province, said the dam was not affected by the quake as it was not in the seismic area.

Meanwhile, caretaker Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt today inspected the inspected quake-hit areas this morning and ordered the temporary closure of Highway 118 for repairs due to cracks in some parts of the road.

At Chiang Rai's Mae Fah Luang Airport, flight services were operating as usual despite some damage of airport windows.

The minister instructed airport officials to prepare for evacuation, while aircraft were asked use remote parking instead of runway parking for passengers' safety. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-05-06

[Now or Never]

Yeah sure.... Mai Pen Lai..... no problems here..... she'll be right mate.

[chainarong]

Now , lets get this right , it is not twenty four hours since the earthquake and you have arrived at this prognoses , seeing as there is a systematic failure in administration management in most of Thailand's Government departments , this I would take with a grain of salt , did you inspect under the water area , has Xray/NDT machines been deployed to check for invisible hair line cracks, that could weaken the support foundations, dam walls . Just thought I'd ask.

[RubbaJohnny]

Now , lets get this right , it is not twenty four hours since the earthquake and you have arrived at this prognoses , seeing as there is a systematic failure in administration management in most of Thailand's Government departments , this I would take with a grain of salt , did you inspect under the water area , has Xray/NDT machines been deployed to check for invisible hair line cracks, that could weaken the support foundations, dam walls . Just thought I'd ask.

Thanks you beat be too it ,of course everything is fine if an important person with badges tells a compliant press/propaganda department.

While in principle theUS system of high legal fees and ambulance chasers is a social cost,the risk of having to be responsible sued for big bucks does encourage an albeit over zealous safety culture.

Of course there are abuses sueing cafes for scalding coffee folks cheating on car claims etc ,however the guys here know no one important ever ever does time and the investigative journalists who digs deep digs his own grave/exile.

Lies dam lies and impunity

[Ricardo]

Perhaps it's good timing, that water-levels are low currently, meaning less stress on the dams ?

[WhizBang]

Northern dams unaffected by earthquake

Yup, right up until one collapses.

[webfact]

Northern Dams Safe Despite Earthquakes: Officials

By Khaosod English

CHIANG RAI - Top officials have insisted that series of earthquake in northern Thailand have not damaged major dams in the region.

The 6.0-magnitude quake hit Chiang Rai province at around 18.00 yesterday, sending people to flee from their homes and buildings in panic. Waves of aftershock, measuring 5.0-5.9 on the Richter scale, followed throughout the early morning today.

The quake is considered to be the strongest in living memory by many local residents, and its effect has caused severe damages to hundreds of buildings in the area, including several historic temples.

The incident also raised concerns that some dams in the northern region, such as the gigantic Bhumipol Dam, may have been harmed by the quake and its numerous aftershocks.

However, Bhumipol Dam director Pisut Chokkatiwat said today that the dam has been virtually unaffected by the earthquake in Chiang Rai province. The dam and its four generators continued to operate smoothly despite the quake and its aftershocks, he said.

In fact, the structure of Bhumipol Dam can withstand up to 7.5-magnitude earthquakes, Mr. Pisut added.

Meanwhile, oficials at Mae Ngut Dam in Chiang Mai said the dam was automatically shut down immediately once the quake struck the neighbouring province in order to avoid any malfunction. Its generators were later re-activated to resume their operation normally, officials said.

Transport Minister Chatchart Sitthipan also urged the public not to panic or spread false information about the earthquake's effect on the northern dams.

Speaking during his trip to inspect the damages on the Route 118 highway in Chiang Rai's Mae Saruay district today, Mr. Chatchart warned that dissemination of rumours and false reports of earthquake damages will only worsen the situation.

He advised the residents in Chiang Rai province to stick to the news reports which will be issued every two hour by the local authorities.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1399362631


-- Khaosod English 2014-05-06

[culicine]

And so what would happen if a 7.5+ earthquake should strike near the dam? Because it has never happened does not mean it could not happen in the future. A 6 magnitude quake has released pressure in that area but undoubtedly has increased it in other areas.

[siampolee]

6.0–6.9 magnitude.

Strong VII to X Damage to a moderate number of well-built structures in populated areas. Earthquake-resistant structures survive with slight to moderate damage. Poorly designed structures receive moderate to severe damage. Felt in wider areas; up to hundreds of miles/kilometers from the epicenter. Strong to violent shaking in epicentral area. Death toll ranges from none to 25,000.

Methinks that those statements were made in haste without any conception as to the power of the earthquake, whilst there may be no visible damage perhaps a professional seismic survey would be a wise move so as to forestall any future problems as may occur.

Edited May 6, 2014 by siampolee

[webfact]

EARTHQUAKE
Bhumibol Dam free from damage as work begins on repairing affected roads

BANGKOK: -- The country's biggest concrete arch dam, the Bhumibol Dam, remains strong following Monday's 6.3magnitude earthquake in the northern region.

The quake sparked concerns among local residents over its anti-earthquake capacity, as the acting transport minister today ordered the closure of a quake-damaged highway for repairs.

Bhumibol Dam director Pisut Chokekotwat reaffirmed that the arch dam in Tak province had not been affected by the Chiang Rai earthquake.

He said that the dam was designed to handle earthquakes to up to 7.5 on the Richter scale and added that the dam is also 350 kilometres away from Chiang Rai.

Electricity being provided as usual was for local residents around the dam, Pisut said.

Somwang Pansuksan, chief of maintenance staff for the Kwainoi Bamrungdaen Dam in Phitsanulok province, said the dam was not affected by the quake as it was not in the seismic area.

Meanwhile, caretaker Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt today inspected the inspected quakehit areas this morning and ordered the temporary closure of Highway 118 for repairs due to cracks in some parts of the road.

At Chiang Rai's Mae Fah Luang Airport, flight services were operating as usual despite some damage to the airport's windows.

The minister instructed airport officials to prepare for evacuation, while aircraft were asked use remote parking instead of runway parking for passengers' safety.


-- The Nation 2014-05-06

[AsiaCheese]

Every area susceptible to earthquakes has its own "modus operandi", which depends on how tectonic plates interact (direction, up/downward push etc.), which in turn pretty much determines how far up on the Richter scale an area can go. As far as I know, the areas in question here aren't exactly known for pent up forces over a long time being suddenly released in a massive shift. If one can believe that a dam really has been built to 7.5 specs, then a 6.3 is still more than an order of magnitude below that - and also quite a distance away.

Edited May 6, 2014 by AsiaCheese

[Basil B]

Time to worry is when the order a few hundred tons of Polyfiler.

[JohnThailandJohn]

Every area susceptible to earthquakes has its own "modus operandi", which depends on how tectonic plates interact (direction, up/downward push etc.), which in turn pretty much determines how far up on the Richter scale an area can go. As far as I know, the areas in question here aren't exactly known for pent up forces over a long time being suddenly released in a massive shift. If one can believe that a dam really has been built to 7.5 specs, then a 6.3 is still more than an order of magnitude below that - and also quite a distance away.

Not to mention the quake didn't even feel the full effects of a 6.3 but these are minor considerations as well as the fact that building to 7.5 specs doesn't mean it will come down at 7.5 stop the seismic building engineering experts combined bridge inspecting experts spread their fear in order to maintain a false sense of superiority.

[klauskunkel]

Northern dams unaffected by earthquake

Yes, well, a much more urgent question is: are they unaffected by officials, i.e. Plodprasob?

Thai Officials. a Force of Nature!

[FangFerang]

I can't buy this shoot from the hip analysis. There is no way a magnitude six quake had no effect on the structures. It might be minimal, but no effect is laughable.

[nottocus]

If I was there, I'd be running with that announcement

[godden]

Saw a small boy there yesterday with his finger stuck in what looked like a small hole, should i be worried!!