PENCHAN CHAROENSUTHIPAN
Bangkok Post
Thailand is sitting on active faults which could cause a powerful earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale or more, a seminar was told yesterday. Panithan Lakkhunaprasit, of Chulalongkorn University which organised the seminar, said layers of soft sediment from the Chao Phraya river would increase the severity of the tremors fourfold in Bangkok. Referring to the recent earthquake in China, he said many were crushed when buildings collapsed.
Mr Panithan said there are about two million buildings in Bangkok.
Though most were not designed for earthquake resistance, good structures and quality building materials would matter most during an earthquake.
He called for structural reviews of existing buildings and quality assessments of new building projects.
Disaster Mitigation and Prevention Department deputy director-general Suwit Khanikul said that under the disaster prevention plan, grassroots bodies were tasked with monitoring situations around-the-clock and issuing warnings.
Mr Panithan said there are about two million buildings in Bangkok.
Though most were not designed for earthquake resistance, good structures and quality building materials would matter most during an earthquake.
He called for structural reviews of existing buildings and quality assessments of new building projects.
Disaster Mitigation and Prevention Department deputy director-general Suwit Khanikul said that under the disaster prevention plan, grassroots bodies were tasked with monitoring situations around-the-clock and issuing warnings.
