Earthquake felt in Bangkok

[jason1975]

2 hours ago, vinapu said:

One got seriously scared to a point of fainting but it looks all reported for work last night

Commendable work ethic!

[bkkmfj2648]

7 hours ago, jamiebee said:

the type of land/soil Bangkok has, where it is more susceptible to the ground movement of sort. I don't know what's his qualifications are nor if his claims are backed up by science.

The Bangkok Governor inferred what you stated above.

Source from the Pattaya News article posted below: 

 

I have since learned that over here in Pattaya that the local terrain soil is sandy and not clay-like, like what is found over in Bangkok - hence why we had way less damage here. 

It probably also explains why Bangkok is slowly sinking ?? 🤔

 

[reader]

From Pattaya News

Earthquake Releases Energy Equivalent to 334 Atomic Bombs, Geologist Warns of Prolonged Aftershocks

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on Friday has unleashed energy equivalent to 334 atomic bombs, according to a prominent geologist. The quake, centered near the country’s second-largest city of Mandalay, has left a trail of destruction across Myanmar and neighboring Thailand, with experts now cautioning that aftershocks could rattle the region for another two to three months.

Dr. Jess Phoenix, a geologist interviewed by international media, explained that the earthquake’s energy release was comparable to hundreds of Hiroshima-sized nuclear explosions, underscoring its catastrophic potential. “This was a massive event, driven by the ongoing collision of the Indian tectonic plate with the Eurasian plate beneath Myanmar,” Phoenix said. “The region’s tectonic activity isn’t done yet—aftershocks are likely to continue, posing ongoing risks.”

 

The earthquake, which hit just before 1:20 p.m. local time on March 28, was followed just 12 minutes later by a significant 6.4-magnitude aftershock, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Since then, at least 14 additional aftershocks have been recorded in Myanmar, with more felt across Thailand. The USGS estimates that the initial rupture extended up to 500 kilometers along the Sagaing Fault, a major tectonic boundary running north-south through Myanmar.
 

Mandalay and the capital, Naypyidaw, have reported widespread damage, with collapsed buildings, buckled roads, and overwhelmed hospitals. A bridge over the Irrawaddy River near Mandalay has also collapsed, complicating rescue efforts.

Experts attribute the region’s vulnerability to its position along the Sagaing Fault, where the Indian Plate slides past the Burma microplate at a rate of 11 to 18 millimeters per year. “This strike-slip fault can produce earthquakes up to magnitude 8, and we’ve seen this kind of destruction before,” said Dr. Roberto Gentile, an earthquake risk expert from University College London. He noted historical precedents, such as a 7.7-magnitude quake in 1946, and warned that the current event’s shallow depth—about 10 kilometers—amplified its surface impact.

 

The prolonged aftershock warning stems from the fault’s ongoing stress adjustments. “Aftershocks could persist for weeks or even months as the earth settles,” Gentile added. “We’ve already seen a significant one, and more are expected, which could further threaten weakened structures.” The USGS has not yet released an operational aftershock forecast for this event, but similar seismic sequences suggest a tapering series of tremors, potentially including some as strong as magnitude 6 or higher.

 

https://thepattayanews.com/2025/03/29/powerful-myanmar-earthquake-releases-energy-equivalent-to-334-atomic-bombs-geologist-warns-of-prolonged-aftershocks/

 

[PeterRS]

Having been in many earthquakes including one when in an office less than 50 kms from the main 6.9 San Jose earthquake in 1989, I know only too well that aftershocks are to be expected and can continue for many days. However, analysis of most aftershock activity seems to suggest that, while that can be sizeable, their geographical area is limited to much closer to that of the main quake and not nearly as widespread as that initial quake. I believe Bangkok did feel some of the effect of the first large aftershock - even if I did not. However, I also believe that none of the other aftershocks have been felt here.

Certainly today Bangkok was operating all but normally. The Skytrain and MRT were running and both Silom Complex and Paragon shopping malls were fully open and doing good business.

[reader]

The Mahanakhon sways in the quake.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/669362185585297

 

[vinapu]

8 hours ago, jason1975 said:

Commendable work ethic!

or greed

[vinapu]

41 minutes ago, reader said:

The Mahanakhon sways in the quake.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/669362185585297

 

probably it sways even when strong wind is blowing

[bkkmfj2648]

1 hour ago, vinapu said:

probably it sways even when strong wind is blowing

 

 

[unicorn]

13 hours ago, a-447 said:

Yes. Stand in the doorway of the smallest room in the house - I.e. the toilet - is the advice we were always given.

😉

[t0oL1]

I hate those rooftop pools!!!

[vinapu]

33 minutes ago, t0oL1 said:

I hate those rooftop pools!!!

that's not a pool atop Mahanakhon but glass floor over chasm

[a-447]

10 hours ago, unicorn said:

😉

OMG! The likeness to me is uncanny! 😅

[reader]

From The Nation

Strong 5.1 magnitude aftershock strikes Myanmar near Mandalay

A strong 5.1 magnitude aftershock struck Myanmar on Sunday afternoon, according to a report by Krungthep Turakij, citing foreign media outlets.

However, no damage has been reported from this aftershock.

The bureau stated that as of 1 pm on Sunday, a total of 169 aftershocks had been detected, ranging from magnitudes 1 to 7.

The main earthquake took place at 1.20 pm on Friday, with the epicentre located near Mandalay.

the bureau, the 169 aftershocks were categorised into the following magnitude levels:

• 1.0–2.9: 43 aftershocks
• 3.0–3.9: 79 aftershocks
• 4.0–4.9: 40 aftershocks
• 5.0–5.9: 6 aftershocks
• 7.0 or greater: 1 aftershock

 https://www.nationthailand.com/news/world/40048084

 

[vinapu]

8 hours ago, a-447 said:

OMG! The likeness to me is uncanny! 😅

I thought you are more handsome

[Keithambrose]

23 hours ago, vinapu said:

probably it sways even when strong wind is blowing

My office building in London, only 33 stories, swayed noticeably in a strong wind. It was the first building  in London to have no foundations  as such, relying on stainless steel buttresses.  The usual foundations  were not possible,  as the railway line from Liverpool Street ran under the building.  Hence, also, no basement parking.

[a-447]

44 minutes ago, vinapu said:

I thought you are more handsome

You're right - I am.

Must be the lighting.

[reader]

From Pattaya News

Chinese Nationals removed documents from collapse site

Bangkok, March 30, 2025 – A legal officer from the Civil Affairs Division of the Chatuchak District Office has filed a formal complaint with the Bang Sue Police Station, accusing five Chinese nationals of violating an official directive. The group allegedly entered a restricted area—the site of a collapsed building under construction for the State Audit Office of Thailand—and removed critical documents, including blueprints and other paperwork, from the premises.

The incident comes from the collapse of the under construction 33-story office building in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district, which occurred on March 28, 2025, following a powerful earthquake originating in Myanmar. The disaster has prompted relevant authorities to declare the site a restricted disaster zone under Thailand’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act. This designation prohibits unauthorized entry, with violators facing up to three months in prison, a fine of up to 6,000 baht, or both.

According to multiple Thai media reports, the five Chinese nationals entered the site without permission and were observed by witnesses transporting documents out of the construction area. The documents in question reportedly included architectural blueprints and other materials related to the building project, raising concerns about their intentions. The legal officer’s complaint, lodged on March 30, 2025, seeks to hold them accountable for breaching the emergency order issued by the Governor of Bangkok.

The collapsed building, intended to serve as the new headquarters for the State Audit Office, was being constructed by a joint venture involving a Chinese company and a prominent Thai construction firm.

Continues with photos

https://thepattayanews.com/2025/03/30/legal-action-taken-against-five-chinese-nationals-for-unauthorized-entry-into-collapsed-skyscraper-in-bangkok-to-allegedly-remove-building-documents/

=======

Concerns Raised Over Steel Quality

Bangkok, March 30, 2025 – In the wake of the collapse of the under construction State Audit Office building in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district, some alleged building experts have pointed to potential alleged flaws in the quality of the steel reinforcements used in its construction. However, the Thai Minister of Industry said samples were taken and needed further testing before firm conclusions could be made.

Posts on social media and statements from alleged engineering professionals have highlighted a troubling hypothesis: The steel reinforcements, specifically identified as DB.32 SD.50 grade, may have been substandard. According to one expert cited in online discussions, laboratory tests on this type of steel have consistently shown a low yield strength, despite meeting minimum tensile strength requirements of over 5,000 kg/cm². Critically, the steel reportedly exhibits issues during bending tests, with tendencies to crack or split into layers, suggesting a major issue and problem for structures in seismic zones.

“This type of steel has a history of problems,” noted an anonymous civil engineering veteran online . “The low yield point combined with poor bending performance makes it a risky choice for tall buildings, especially in an area that could experience seismic activity. If this was indeed used in the collapsed building, it could explain why it failed so catastrophically while others stood firm.”

Continues at

https://thepattayanews.com/2025/03/30/experts-raise-concerns-over-steel-quality-in-collapsed-bangkok-building-following-earthquake/

 

[Moses]

2 hours ago, reader said:

According to multiple Thai media reports, the five Chinese nationals entered the site without permission and were observed by witnesses transporting documents out of the construction area. The documents in question reportedly included architectural blueprints and other materials related to the building project, raising concerns about their intentions.

This is not important at all: when the company received a building permit, it submitted at least one complete set of documents to the permitting authority. So this is a conspiracy theory.

2 hours ago, reader said:

laboratory tests on this type of steel have consistently shown a low yield strength, despite meeting minimum tensile strength requirements of over 5,000 kg/cm². Critically, the steel reportedly exhibits issues during bending tests, with tendencies to crack or split into layers

But this is interesting, if it is true. Now question: who is supplier, because construction company for sure doesn't manufacture this metal itself. And here are 2 possibilities:

• they used not JIS SD50 or
• they used properly marked, but forged by manufacturer JIS SD50. 

To whom, who has no idea what is SD50 metal

[thaiophilus]

43 minutes ago, Moses said:

This is not important at all: when the company received a building permit, it submitted at least one complete set of documents to the permitting authority. So this is a conspiracy theory.

Possibly, but you seem to be assuming that the removed documents were identical to those submitted. If they were, why go to the trouble of removing them when other copies exist and you could so easily print another identical copy?

[Moses]

5 hours ago, thaiophilus said:

Possibly, but you seem to be assuming that the removed documents were identical to those submitted. If they were, why go to the trouble of removing them when other copies exist and you could so easily print another identical copy?

This doesn't make sense - because unlike papers, you can't take the materials away. And no matter what papers the Chinese carry, if the materials in the ruins are unusable, as written above, then the reason is clear.

And as for the papers - these are definitely conspiracy theories. The papers are made before construction, they are not diaries of "how we built it wrong". No one in their right mind would document their violations.

Or do you really think that the construction manager kept records there like "today I replaced one metal with another"?

If this company had double construction accounting, it was not on the construction site, but in the office, and most likely in China.

[Moses]

If you really need a conspiracy theory, you should think not about the fact that the documents could show a lack of materials, but about the fact that they could show something extra, like spy caches, antenna arrays, etc.

In the 90s, the United States was forced to demolish a new, newly built embassy building in Moscow when it turned out that the metal reinforcement in the walls was laid in such a way that it not only strengthened the walls, but also amplified and transmitted all the radiation from phones and computers to the outside, and it was practically impossible to shield it. The building was built by a Russian company hired by the US government. Then this building was completely demolished and rebuilt by an American company.

[PeterRS]

There are several tall bulldings under construction in Bangkok and many recently completed - Bangkok One being a prime example. One wonders why this particular building under construction seemed to pancake down from the top rather like the buildings in the Twin Towers in New York, and yet no other building seemed to suffer damage. With no knowledge of construction, I would have thought ground shaking would have started in demolition from the bottom up, or would it have been progressively strengthened as the building got higher? 

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, Moses said:

If you really need a conspiracy theory, you should think not about the fact that the documents could show a lack of materials, but about the fact that they could show something extra, like spy caches, antenna arrays, etc.

 

all very convincing but still doesn't explain why they went to retrieve something  fully knowing that it will be dangerous and quite possibly illegal

[bkkmfj2648]

1 hour ago, PeterRS said:

There are several tall bulldings under construction in Bangkok and many recently completed - Bangkok One being a prime example. One wonders why this particular building under construction seemed to pancake down from the top rather like the buildings in the Twin Towers in New York, and yet no other building seemed to suffer damage. With no knowledge of construction.....

I add this image that I saw on Twitter (X), that supposedly shows some of the base pillars snapping away from their base foundation, just before collapsing in on itself.

Supposedly, the design of this building was from a "core tube and flat slab system".

I have no idea what that means and how it could relate to the below image.

I put it out there in case someone could explain it better?

[Moses]

4 hours ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

core tube and flat slab system