Massive Earthquake at Chiangmai Kills 30

Prapruet Rassameearamwong

CHIANGMAI: A very strong earthquake took place at Chiangmai on Thrusday, March 15, 2012 resulting in thirty people dead and several people injured and homeless.

The Director General of Geology Department of Thailand, Mr. Supoj Kongyu, said that the epicenter of the quake was in Laos having a direct impact on the wide area including Thailand and it was the worst earthquake causing the major damages in Chaingmai.

The earthquake was measured as 7.5 Richter scale and it was the biggest and worst experience of Chiangmai people, he added.

“It was very big. For me, this is the first time having a bad experience about this and it was such a terrible moment that we struggled to survive because of the severe quake”, eyewitness said.

She also added that the terrifying shaking lasted about 20 seconds and was followed by several aftershocks.

Mr. Surin Jongjaiyut, the Governor of Chiangmai, stated there was no sign and warning from any sections of the severe earthquake. The consequence of the quake resulted in at least 30 people dead, several people injured, and hundreds of people homeless because of their buildings’ collapse.

“It is very difficult to control my mind when I had to see the ruins. And I don’t know where to stay for tonight because my home was already destroyed”, another victim said.

Mr. Surin also added that a number of the dead would continually increase because there are still some being trapped under the rubble of flattened buildings. And it’ll be stable when we stop searching.

Ms. Wanutchaporn Srinuan, the national archeologist, claimed that the ancient remains and Chedi at Doi Suthep were also severely destroyed by the powerful earthquake which they had to take a long time to repair.

Reports said that the powerful quake also left a lot of people in the outage. Trains, buses, and airplanes stopped providing service as well as the mobile connectivity in quake-hit areas.

Ms. Yinluck Shinnawatra, the Prime Minister, has announced the state of emergency in Chiangmai in order to handle with the impact of the quake and asked for Thai people to mourn over the dead person.