Earthquakes hit Laos this morning; tremor felt on Thai side

[misskit]

BANGKOK (NNT) - A 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit Laos at 4:03 a.m. this morning, followed by several after-shocks and a 6.4 magnitude earthquake at 6:50 a.m. The epicenter of the quake was 19 kilometers away from Khun Nan subdistrict in Nan province, while the tremor was felt in the north and northeastern provinces of Thailand, as well as in tall buildings in Bangkok.


The Meteorological Department and the Department of Mineral Resources have announced the earthquake occurred at a faultline in Laos which is connected to the Pua fault in Thailand. In the past a similar earthquake of 6.5 magnitude in the same area, occurred on 13th May 1935.


The Meteorological Department’s (TMD) Director General Group Capt Somsak Khaosuwan said today the 6.4 magnitude quake at 6:50 a.m. this morning was the main shock, and there will be smaller aftershocks occurring for about a month as the tectonic plates release their power.


On the tremor which could be felt in tall buildings in Bangkok, the TMD chief explained that the soft soil in Bangkok enables vibrations to be felt even from far away, however the general public shouldn’t panic as the department’s earthquake observation division is always closely monitoring the situation. He also said should there be an earthquake in Thailand, the quake will be smaller than 7 magnitude, and is likely to have its epicenter around the Mae Chan fault.


The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received updates from the Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane, which has reached out to Thai communities in Laos after the incident. The report says the power plant in Hong Sa received some damage, including to the workers’ housing. There has however, been no report so far regarding any injuries among Thai people in Laos.


The tremor was reportedly felt at Xayaburi Hydroelectric Dam and in Luang Prabang, however there has been no damage or reports of injuries.


Thai people in Laos affected by the quake can request assistance by calling the embassy’s emergency number +856-20-5551-2228


National News Bureau Of Thailand

[misskit]

500-year old ubosot in Nan province damaged by quake

Several buildings in several districts of Thailand’s northern province of Nan, including a 500-year old ubosot, or ordination hall, were damaged by a strong earthquake centred in the Laos PDR this morning.


Cracks appeared on several buildings, including a border patrol police school and teacher lodgings in Chalerm Phrakiat district, the Government Savings Bank office in Tha Wang Pa district and the ubosot of Wat Phra That Khao Noi, which is located on a hilltop in Tambon Chaisathan of Muang district.


Local officials said that cracks appeared in the foundations of the ubosot and the temple is waiting for fine arts officials to arrive to assess the damage, adding that the temple suffered serious damage in a quake 57 years ago.


The temple’s abbot, Phra Maha Charun Sirithammo, said the tremors were so strong that he and the other monks had to evacuate to the temple’s front yard for safety.


Mr. Witthaya Khanthayot, an engineer at the Fine Arts Department’s office in Nan, said that officials will examine 25 archaeological sites in the province, especially the famous Wat Phumin, Wat That Chang Kham Woraviharn and Wat Chae Haeng, to assess the damage.


Mr. Kathayuth Chupoon, managing director of Hong Sa power plant in Laos, said in a statement today that several buildings in the plant’s compound were damaged, but officials could not yet gain access to assess the damage for safety reasons.


He said that inspection and assessment will be carried out immediately it is confirmed that it is safe for officials to enter the area.


In Thailand’s north-eastern province of Khon Kaen, medical personnel and patients were rapidly evacuated from Ratchapruek Hospital this morning, after strong vibrations were felt.


Dr. Thirawat Srinakharin, a hospital executive, said that he had to order the evacuation for safety reasons.


https://www.thaipbsworld.com/500-yea...aged-by-quake/

[beerlaodrinker]

Yes . I felt it. Lao media are reporting it as 5.4 on the scale. Not a big quake but they dont get many here so had a lot of folk worried. As far as i know nothing catastrophic happened. Nothing fell down nobody got dead

[harrybarracuda]

There were two a few hours apart.

[Luigi]

One big jolt, or very powerful thunder out of the blue sky, 2 mins ago in CM.