Quake fears remain as residents cope with heavy damage

Aftershocks continue in the North amid worrisome signs that a bigger quake could hit the already heavily-damaged earthquake zone in Chiang Rai.

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Worried residents from Ban Huay San Yao in Chiang Rai’s Mae Lao district camp in tents on a football pitch at a nearby school. The residents fled their homes fearing aftershocks following Monday’s quake, which caused extensive damage in the province. Photos by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill.

You can read our earlier earthquake coverage (with many photos) here: http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/408301/big-earthquake-shakes-thailand-north

Noon update: Thai PBS has been talking to local residents whose homes have been severely damaged. Many said they constructed the homes themselves with help of local contractors and neighbours and they didn't not realise they were in an earthquake zone. Thus, the supporting structures were not strong enough to withstand a magnitude 6 quake.

Villagers fear stronger jolt will strike

Lamphai Intathep

Chiang Rai: Saikhao villagers in Phan district of Chiang Rai are living in fear that a bigger quake could rock their area because large amounts of water and sand appeared from underground in the village.

Thanee Namaneewan, kamnan of tambon Saikhao, said yesterday that he and other villagers noticed the phenomenon after the quake struck his Nong Chik village in Phan district, which was the epicentre

Mr Thanee said he alerted geologists and environmentalists who went to inspect the village.

The experts came to the conclusion that this phenomenon is a warning sign that a sinkhole could appear at any time.

The quake caused extensive damage to houses and buildings in tambon Saikhao.

A woman and her husband view their destroyed home. It had just been constructed with a loan of two million baht.

Cracks were found in the buildings of Tambon Saikhao Administration Organisation and schools.

Parts of temple buildings had subsided.

A monk surveys the damage to a prayer hall at Wat Mae Lao Woraram in Mae Lao district of Chiang Rai.

About 200 families in tambon Dong Ma Dua of Mae Lao district in Chiang Rai set up tents for a second night away from their homes to sleep on a football field at Huay San Yao Witthayakhom School.

They said they still experienced aftershocks and feared another powerful earthquake would strike the area. They said they would rather be in the open than in their homes.

As of 4am yesterday, the Seismological Bureau reported on its website that a total of 274 aftershocks had been recorded in the North since Monday's 6.3 quake.

The bureau said yesterday that more than 180 aftershocks were below 3.0 on the Richter scale, 33 were between 3.0 and 3.9, while 21 were between 4.0 and 4.9 and seven measured between 5.0 and 5.2.

An aerial view of a damaged portion of Highway 118 between Mae Lao and Mae Sruay districts of Chiang Rai.

Caretaker Education Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng yesterday met students and directors from Chiang Rai's schools which were badly damaged by the quake.

He met them at Phan Phittayakom School in Phan district and pledged the caretaker government will spend funds from its central budget to repair and construct new buildings.

He said eight buildings belonging to five state schools in Phan, Mae Lao and Mae Suai districts of Chiang Rai were severely damaged and that they needed to undergo repair work as soon as possible.

He said he wanted all schools to be ready to open for the new term on May 16, but they must be safe for the students and staff.

He said the initial cost of the damage at the 73 affected schools in Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Nan, Lampang and Phayao was an estimated 152.5 million baht.

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