Strong quake is a wake-up call for Thailand: Editorial

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Strong quake is a wake-up call for Thailand
The Nation

The magnitude-6.3 tremor jolted us out of our complacence; we need new measures to deal with seismic activity

BANGKOK: -- The earthquake that shook the North on Monday, causing widespread damage to areas around its epicentre in Chiang Rai, was a wake-up call for Thailand. Measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale, the quake was the strongest ever recorded in the Kingdom.

Thailand is by no means a "hot spot" for earthquakes of this magnitude. In a region situated amid a crosshatch of geological faults, Thais suffer fewer and less severe quakes than their neighbours in Indonesia and Myanmar.

The law once stipulated that Thailand's tall buildings (15 metres or higher) must be built to withstand a 6.0-magnitude tremor. In 2007 that bar was raised to magnitude 7.0 for new buildings. Nevertheless, experts reckon that more than 20,000 buildings across the country would be severely damaged in a strong earthquake.

Monday's tremor left many houses in the North uninhabitable and put alarming cracks in the walls of multi-storey hotels, schools and government offices. Thais, unfamiliar with such a strong geological jolt, were shocked to see roads subsiding, houses collapsing and temples crumbling. For residents in and around Chiang Rai, the trauma was prolonged by more than 100 aftershocks.

The incident also shook us out of our complacence: we now know that Thailand is not safe from strong quakes. Hence, we need new measures to protect ourselves. Residents in areas at risk should be educated about what to do if an earthquake hits, such as diving for cover from falling masonry and evacuating buildings at the first opportunity. There should be regular "disaster" exercises in quake-prone areas.

Monday's tremor was unusual, but there's no telling when another of its strength will occur again. As such, all buildings, whatever their height, should be required to withstand an earthquake of up to 7.0 magnitude. Strengthening existing structures with braces or other forms of added support now seems essential, if not urgent.

Authorities should also examine transport infrastructure, including mass transit systems, to ensure they can withstand strong seismic activity.

No cracks have been reported in the dams in the quake-hit provinces of Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Phayao, but authorities must monitor their structures for any signs they were damaged in the tremor and aftershocks.

Further studies would also be useful to identify which areas are at high risk of earthquakes. Scientists have identified the location of several faults in Thailand, most of them in the North, though certainly not all of them. They have admitted, however, that the geological picture is far from complete.


-- The Nation 2014-05-08

[NongKhaiKid]

A wake up call in Thailand ?

There's an obscene amount of casualties on the roads but only highlighted at New Year and Songkran but nothing, other than fine words, happens.

Drought and Flooding are an annual event but ... !

Mai Pen Rai

[Tokay]

Wake up call for Thailand = Mai pen rai, wear more amulets

[jollyman]

WAKE UP THAILAND

"Who is in charge of the clattering train?
The axles creak, and the couplings strain.
Ten minutes behind at the Junction. Yes!
And we're twenty now to the bad—no less!
We must make it up on our flight to town.
Clatter and crash! That's the last train down,
Flashing by with a steamy trail.
Pile on the fuel! We must not fail.
At every mile we a minute must gain!
Who is in charge of the clattering train?

Death is in charge of the clattering train"

(

Edwin James Milliken

Edited May 8, 2014 by jollyman

[shirtless]

Its a wake up call, but there is no one listening, If that had been a 7 it would be bye bye Chang Rai.As the building code equates to alot of sand a lot of love and a little cement.

[daveAustin]

The magnitude-6.3 tremor jolted us out of our complacence; we need new measures to deal with seismic activity

Alarmist tosh. As the first post mentioned, look to sort the roads first, they kill around 26,000 a year (or three per hour)... how many do quakes kill?

Having said that, tremors like this in this region have been happening for centuries--Way Chedi Luang, anyone?--but, although I could be wrong, Thailand's faults are fast and slippy, and, as such, do not have the capacity to generate 'big' ones. The main threat is from the water from those originating over in Indonesia, as seen in 2004.

[Payboy]

we need new measures to deal with seismic activity

A crackdown?

[robblok]

A wake up call.. they never seem to learn from the flood and use it as a money maker (corrupt red government) instead of hiring real experts they look for the options that line their pockets the most. Flooding is normal here, but real experts and real plans have never been made. They just look for the option where they can skim the most not what is best.

So after knowing this what chance for change is there for something that happens far less frequent.... NONE.

[focus27]

Stating the obvious and obviously nothing will be done.

I was in Chiang Mai for a similar sized earthquake about 5 years ago, but the epicentre was over the hills in Myanmar. I was on the 11th floor so thoughts turned to the high quality Thai structure that was swaying with me inside it. Looked OK the next day; no visible cracks. Phew!

All one can say is 'good luck' to the people affected in Chiang Rai. Hopefully some will rebuild with some thought for the future... and larger spirit houses.

[hobz]

A wake up call in Thailand ?

There's an obscene amount of casualties on the roads but only highlighted at New Year and Songkran but nothing, other than fine words, happens.

Drought and Flooding are an annual event but ... !

Mai Pen Rai

What, the 200 baht fine for driving without drivers license is not enough?

[jaltsc]

"The law once stipulated that Thailand's tall buildings (15 metres or higher) must be built to withstand a 6.0-magnitude tremor. In 2007 that bar was raised to magnitude 7.0 for new buildings. Nevertheless, experts reckon that more than 20,000 buildings across the country would be severely damaged in a strong earthquake."

Typical Thai thinking. Where the building contractor pays off officials in order to have them ignore the laws of nature .

[doctorproc156]

There has been plenty of wake up calls for the flooding, but until today nothing has been done.

[Thai at Heart]

Measures like?

Knock down all the dangerous building? Form a committee to.tell everyone all the buildings have been inspected and its all fine?

[wileycoyote]

Correct there should be better building regulations

[toybits]

Regulations are like traffic rules. They may be in place - but nobody follows them.

If you look at a typical petrol station in Thailand, you would wonder if it would stand up to a strong quake or violent storm.

I always cringe when I see the tiny posts they put on a 3 or 4 floor apartment block or commercial building.

Scary!!!

[Jonmarleesco]

I recall questions being raised over the durability of the MRT, in regard to its depth relative to the water table. I imagine questions should now be asked about its structural strength in the event of a severe earthquake in Bangkok.