A series of earthquakes struck Myanmar’s Shan State and Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand through the night. The earthquakes began at around 11:30pm yesterday and as of 7am, a total of 47 tremors ranging in magnitude from 2.4 to 6.4 on the Richter scale had occurred. More earthquakes are expected today, according to Thailand’s meteorological department.
No damage or injuries have been reported as a result of the earthquakes so far. However, damage near the epicentre is possible. The strongest earthquake which measured 6.4 on the Richter scale occurred at 00:06. The epicentre was found 87 kilometres northeast of Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district, across the border in Myanmar.
At 2:31am, a 4.6 magnitude earthquake at a depth of 1 kilometre occurred 78 kilometres northeast of Mae Sai district. At 5:22am, a 5.3 magnitude earthquake at a depth of 4 kilometres struck 82 kilometres northeast of Mae Sai district.
The earthquakes were felt in Myanmar’s Shan State south of Keng Tung and in various areas in Chiang Rai province including Mae Sai district, Mae Chan district, Mae Fah Luang district, Mueang district, Phan district, Chiang Saen district and Chiang Khong district in Chiang Rai. Weak shaking may also have been felt across the border in southern China.
The tremors occurred during the night and many Chiang Rai residents posted on social media to say they were woken up by their beds shaking.
More earthquakes are expected today in Chiang Rai and across the border in Myanmar, according to the Earthquake Observance Division of Thailand’s Meteorological Department. The department said that earthquakes with a maximum magnitude of 6.4 are expected, which could affect buildings near the epicentre and cause minor damage such as a broken windows.
SOURCE: Thai Rath