Fear no quakes,Chiang Mai is told
Last month's earthquake that sent frightened residents fleeing out of wobbling buildings was not strong enough to cause any major destruction, and nothing dangerous is coming in the near future, authorities said yesterday.
"The earthquake on December 13, which measured 5.6 on the Richter scale, was not hazardous to humans or the core structure of any buildings. It can be categorised as just a medium earthquake. Earthquakes in Thailand are less hazardous than those in Japan, for instance," said Worawut Tantiwanich, a natural-resource specialist. He and Apichai Chawacharoenpan, director-general of the Mineral Resources Department, met residents and the press at the Mae Rim district office to talk about seismic activity. The tremor, which was followed by 40 serial aftershocks until December 15, was caused by the Maetha fault and could be felt by residents in the Mae Rim, San Sai, Hang Dong, Sankamphaeng, Doi Saket and Muang districts in Chiang Mai and neighbouring districts in Lamphun and Chiang Rai. "However, the earthquake and its serial aftershocks did not cause much damage to the affected areas," Worawut said. "Earthquakes happen quite often but seldom of an intensity such as to be felt by human beings. Residents should not be too scared or worried about this natural phenomenon and should understand why it happens." Thailand has 13 quake faults spread mainly across the North - Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Phayao and Tak - the West and lower West, according to the Mineral Resources Department. All these areas have the potential to generate earthquakes since the tectonic plates move all the time. "Since 1978, Chiang Mai and especially Mae Rim and San Sai districts have been hit by 33 earthquakes' the most powerful in 1995 and 2006 at 5.2 and 5.6," Apichai said.
Atsadaporn Kamthai Citylife Chiang Mai
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