Very strong shallow damaging earthquake close to Chiang Rai

[Surfcrest]

Very strong shallow damaging earthquake close to Chiang Rai, Thailand тАУ so far a lucky escape (no reported injuries)

Most important Earthquake Data:

Magnitude : 6

Local Time (conversion only below land) : 2014-05-05 18:08:47

GMT/UTC Time : 2014-05-05 11:08:47

Depth (Hypocenter) : 2 km

http://earthquake-report.com/2014/05/05/strong-earthquake-thailand-on-may-5-2014/

[youtube:1sxqmxxq]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vie6qNlFkJw[/youtube:1sxqmxxq]

[youtube:1sxqmxxq]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzBD63NejVo[/youtube:1sxqmxxq]

[BonTong]

We had a good shake here in Chiang Mai! Strongest I've felt in Thailand, no signs of damage in Chiang Mai but there was apparently quite a bit of panic at major shopping malls etc. Aftershocks have been continuing ever since, several over 5.0 magnitude. Was woken by one this morning.

Up in Chiang Rai the situation is worse. At least one fatality now reported and significant damage. The famed Wat Rong Khun - The white wat apparently suffered quite a bit, as did a few other temples.

Fortunately this one seemed to be of quite short duration - 10-15 seconds in my perception. Had it gone on much longer the results could have been much worse. A big quake would be devastating in Chiang Mai as all the cheap dormitory blocks come tumbling down. Many have been built super cheaply by the city's nouveau rich for a quick buck with no regard for building regulations (TIT), good practice or even common sense.

[Surfcrest]

Thailand earthquake 2014: A strong tremor was felt in the northern part of Thailand and in Myanmar Monday evening. Local reports said windows were smashed and a number of walls and roads ended up cracking while Buddhist temples got damaged. No casualties were identified as of late.

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According to CNN, a 6.0 magnitude struck the northern part of Thailand Monday evening at 6:08 p.m. (7:08 a.m. ET).

The U.S. Geological Survey says the Thailand earthquake centered about 6 miles south of Mae Lao at a depth of 4.6 miles.
Meanwhile, local reports reveal the quake was also felt in Myanmar as well as in about 60 miles west of Thailand's border with Laos.

A Thai airport, located at the northern city near the epicenter of the temblor, asked people to evacuate its terminal, where display signs and pieces of the ceiling reportedly fell. General Manager Damrong Klongakara said there was no damage or harm in the runway and there were no flight disruptions either.

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Wat Rongkun before the earthquake

The Wat Rongkun, a well-known city temple in the city was immediately closed due to safety concerns following the Thailand earthquake.

"The spire of the main building came off and the tiles on the roof fell off," the designer of the temple Chalermchai Kositpiphat said in an interview with Nation TV, "I still don't know how we can sleep tonight. ... It was shaking the whole time and then aftershocks followed four to five times. It will bring more damages each time an aftershock happens, I'm afraid."

"The murals are also damaged because the pillars were shaken badly," Chalermchai added. "I don't know how many years it will take me to fix it. ... It was tumbling like the earth was going to explode."

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Monk Phra Pathompong said the head of a Buddha statue fell at the Udomwaree Temple in Chiang Rai.

A residential building nearby reportedly had exterior cracks and ceiling damage while residents said only minor damage were caused inside their homes.

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One road in Chiang Rai's Phan district was split by multiple cracks, and the worst crack was said to be the length of three vehicles.

Deputy Director-General at the Interior Ministry Anusorn Kaewkangwan said no casualties have been reported and documented damage was only to roads and buildings.

Thailand's Meteorological Department said the Thailand earthquake was technically at 6.3 magnitude.

The last time an earthquake with a similar size struck Thailand was on Dec. 13, 2006 in the northern province of Chiang Mai. The quake was reportedly at 5.1 magnitude.

Surfcrest