Thailand, Japan on different plates
By The Nation
2011-03-14
Two experts yesterday came out to assure Thais that the recent massive earthquake in Japan would not affect faults in Thailand.
"I am confident that the quake in Japan is unlikely to have any impact here," Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency director Anond Snidvongs said.
Wiriya Mongkhonweeraphan, the former director of the National Disaster Warning Centre, also echoed the same opinion. He explained that Thailand and Japan were on the different plates.
Anond also pointed out that Thailand's faults were small and would be able to generate a quake of no more than five on Richter magnitude scale.
"No matter what the extent of the magnitude, the key point is the response plan. It's necessary to educate people in risky areas," he said. He added that an efficient emergency-response plan would minimise adverse impacts from any quake.
Wiriya said locals in Mae Hong Son, where a fault exists, should for example learn to observe any change in their local environment.
"They must see if the hot mud there is getting hotter. If yes, more measures must be laid down for emergency response," he said.
Meanwhile, a survey by Suan Dusit Poll showed 52.83 per cent of Thais became more interested in information on disasters after seeing the big quake and tsunami hit Japan.
Nearly half of Thai population has seen the recent earthquake in Japan as a grave disaster with huge casualties and massive damages, according to the survey.
The survey also found 34.78 per cent of respondents listing tsunamis as the most frightening disaster. About 33.19 per cent of respondents now called for the installation of modern and efficient early-warning system in risky areas.