Two buildings in Bangkok declared unsafe, occupants evacuated

Two buildings in Bangkok have been declared unsafe and all the occupants have been evacuated, after structural engineers, mobilised by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), inspected 155 buildings, including high-rises in Bangkok, according to the Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department.

Thirty-three other buildings have been classified at “Yellow level” and 102 buildings at “Green level”. The department neither named the unsafe buildings nor elaborated on the meaning of “Yellow” and “Green” levels.

Meanwhile, engineers from the departments of public works and town and country planning have inspected 89 buildings of 28 government agencies and found 73 of them to be in a normal condition and 13 have sustained some damage, with three requiring additional inspection.

The Comptroller General’s Department has set aside 200 million baht in emergency funding, to be used to help people affected by last Friday’s earthquake.

While Bangkok is the worst affected the earthquake in Myanmar, other provinces affected include Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Lamphun, Lampang, Mae Hong Son, Phrae, Nan, Phetchabun, Phitsanuloke, Sukhothai, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon and Chainat.

Governors of these affected provinces have been instructed, by the Comptroller General’s Department, to assess the damage caused by tremors in their respective provinces and to assist affected people in accordance with the regulations.

The tremors felt in Thailand have been classified as Level 3 public disaster warranting a national response, with the setting up of a National Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command, led by Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.