The 8.2-magnitude earthquake that struck near Mandalay, Myanmar, on March 28 has affected 3,375 government buildings across Thailand, with 34 suffering severe damage, the Interior Ministry’s Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning (DPT) reported on Wednesday; reads a Star report.
Of the severely damaged structures, 31 are in provincial areas. The DPT’s Damage Assessment Centre, in collaboration with the Council of Engineers Thailand, the Engineering Institute of Thailand, the Association of Building Inspectors, and 110 volunteer engineers, has been inspecting affected buildings to assess structural integrity.
In Bangkok, 367 buildings were inspected, with 334 deemed safe. Thirty buildings sustained moderate damage but remain use-able, while three buildings and one connection bridge were severely damaged and have been declared off-limits.
Across Thailand’s provinces, 3,008 buildings underwent inspection, with 2,796 found to be structurally sound. A total of 181 buildings sustained moderate damage but are still in use, while 31 were classified as severely damaged and are at risk of collapse.
Authorities have urged owners of high-rise buildings, hotels, condominiums, dormitories, and shopping malls to conduct professional structural inspections in line with official safety guidelines.
On Sunday, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt called on owners of approximately 11,000 buildings across the capital to assess their structures in light of the earthquake, emphasizing that the request was for voluntary cooperation.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
