Buildings at risk of collapse

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Buildings at risk of collapse
By Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation 2011-03-29

Quakes most likely in west and northern regions

Western and northern parts of Thailand could face severe damage - including building collapses, according to geologists, who say there are active faults in these areas that could cause earthquakes of about 6 on the Richter scale.

"We are now keeping an eye closely to monitor western and northern regions, as there are active faults in these areas," Mineral Resources Department spokesperson Adichart Surinkham said yesterday.

According to an earthquake risk map produced by the department, there are 13 faults in Thailand across some 22 provinces.

Kanchanaburi, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phayao, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are classed as highly vulnerable to a quake of up to 7 on the Richter scale.

These provinces are located near three active fault lines, called Three Pagodas Pass, Srisawat, Mae Chan.

Kanchanaburi province is located near Three Pagoda Pass and Srisawat fault lines, while Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phayao, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are near the Mae Chan fault.

Adichart said that quakes with an epicentre in Burma or Laos would also affect Thailand, while a quake in the western region would affect Bangkok.

"An earthquake around 7 on the Richter scale would cause building collapses and road damage," he said.

"Unfortunately, nobody can say when they will exactly occur," he added.

Asian Institute of Technology seismologist Dr Penneung Wanichchai said the western and northern parts of Thailand were the "locations of concern" in Thailand as moderate quakes measuring 5-6 on the Richter scale were still occurring.

"We have found that the violent earthquake [centred near Tachilek in eastern Burma] is still active in these areas."

However, he said there was no earthquake source or fault line likely to cause severe damage and building collapses in Bangkok. But an earthquake with an epicentre outside the capital would affect buildings in Bangkok.

Pornthep Techapaiboon, the deputy governor of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), said about 60 buildings with over 30 floors in Bangkok were at risk from an earthquake rating 5-7 on the Richter scale, such as Baiyoke Tower, the Dusit Thani Hotel, MBK department store, and commercial buildings located in Silom, Sathorn, and Wireless Roads.

Moreover, about 2,000 old buildings in Bangkok would be at risk from a large quake as they were constructed before the enforcement of the 2007 Building Control Act.

"We need to install protection for buildings against earthquakes," Pennueng said.

Given that earthquakes are natural events not yet able to be reliably predicted, National Disaster Warning Centre chief Group Captain Somsak Kowsuwan said his agency had been educating members of public about earthquake preparedness, particularly in areas most at risk of a severe earthquake.

"We found that many people are not aware about earthquakes. They even do not know what they will do after a quake," he said. "We have conducted a lot of training to practice earthquake preparedness but few officials have participated in the training."