One of Thailand’s biggest earthquakes shook the northern part of the country on Monday. The earthquake, which measured 6.3 on the Richter scale, was also followed by at least 109 aftershocks that measured 3.0 to about 5.2 on the scale.
Authorities say that the earthquake left one person dead, an 83-year-old woman killed by a wall that had collapsed on her, and dozen of others hurt. The strength of the quake left temples, roads, walls, and windows severely damaged.
Hundreds of aftershocks hit the north following Monday major quake http://t.co/mMnkq0RZBw #bluemarbletimes #thailand pic.twitter.com/HumAf73qPR
— Blue Marble Times (@BlueMarbleTimes) May 6, 2014
EARTHQUAKE Strong quake hit north of Thailand http://t.co/O42Fj9PbKG pic.twitter.com/x9c2jPCSy5
— The Nation Thailand (@nationnews) May 5, 2014
According to the National Disaster Warning Centre, the earthquake’s epicenter was located in Tambon Saikhao in Phan district. People at the airport in the city of Chiang Rai were also evacuated from the terminal to keep them safe from pieces of the ceiling that were falling.
One of the country’s popular temples, called the White Temple or the Wat Rong Khun, sustained major damages from the quake. According to Chalermchai Kositpipat, the designer of the temple, the damages were so severe that the temple, as well as the other buildings in the area, may need to be demolished.
Kositpipat also said that the aftershocks will cause more damage to the temples each time an aftershock happens.
Residents of Northern Thailand had a sleepless night after the quake, and many resorted to stay outside of their homes because of the aftershocks.
There were also reports of severe shaking in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, and Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second-largest city. Fortunately, no deaths were reported in both areas.
[USGS] M6.0 May-05 11:08:43 UTC, 9km S of Mae Lao, Thailand, Depth:7.36km, http://t.co/Hn6a68zhjo #quake pic.twitter.com/GdxA712tq8
— Earthquakes (@earthquakesApp) May 5, 2014
Southeast Asia is an area that is seismically active and earthquakes are often felt in that region of the world. Having several faults, Thailand has experienced several earthquakes in the past, but those that have been recorded were less severe than the one the country experienced on Monday. The last earthquake that was closest to the 6.3 magnitude was a 5.1 magnitude that hit Chiang Mai province in 2006.
Image via YouTube