Quake death toll rises to 10 in Thailand, aftershocks expected

The death toll from the earthquake that struck Myanmar yesterday(Friday, 28 March) continues to grow in Thailand where the collapse of a 30-storey government building as well as at three construction sites has led to 10 deaths, 16 injuries and 101 missing, says Bangkok Deputy Governor Tavida Kamolvej.

The 7.7-magnitude quake, occurring at a depth of 10 kilometres at 1.20pm in Mandalay, Myanmar, was felt across Thailand, China and Vietnam, says the Bangkok Post. 

The quake caused damage across Bangkok and 10 other Thai provinces, said Pasakorn Boonyalak, director-general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

More aftershocks expected

Aftershocks from the 7.7-magnitude earthquake which hit Myanmar on Friday will continue in Thailand for one to two weeks, according to a seismologist.

Although the aftershocks are expected to be less intense than the initial tremor, people are advised to exercise caution, said Dr Pennung Warnitchai, a renowned expert on structural engineering from the Asia Institute of Technology (AIT) and director of the National Earthquake Research Centre of Thailand.

He also stressed on the need for structural assessments of tall buildings in the wake of the powerful earthquake.

"It's important to make sure that these structures are safe for occupancy and free from damage," Dr Pennung. "If any damage is detected, those buildings must not be used."

The seismologist said that the recent earthquake originated along the Sagaing Fault in Myanmar, which lies between the Indian and Sunda plates. The quake fell within the safety standards for tall buildings designed to withstand seismic activity, he added.

"While risk remains, scientific data suggests that aftershocks will diminish over time."