5.3-magnitude Myanmar quake felt across Thailand

A 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern coast of Myanmar at 9.05am today, with tremors felt in many parts of Thailand, including Bangkok, according to the Earthquake Surveillance Division of the Meteorological Department.

The epicentre was located at a depth of 10km beneath the southern coast of Myanmar, about 247km southwest of Mae Sot district in Thailand’s Tak province.

Tremors were felt by many people in high-rise buildings in Bangkok’s Bang Rak, Lak Si, Pathum Wan and Sathorn districts, as well as at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration office and other locations. Most people reported feeling slightly dizzy, while water in glasses was seen rippling.

People in high-rise buildings in Chiang Mai also reported feeling vibrations.

At about 9.18am, a 3.2-magnitude aftershock was reported off the southern coast of Myanmar. Tremors were also felt in Muang district of Lampang province.

There were no immediate reports of damage in Myanmar.

On March 28th last year, a 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar’s Sagaing region, near the country’s second-largest city, Mandalay, causing extensive damage. More than 5,300 people in Myanmar were killed, while over 100 people, mostly construction workers, were buried alive when the nearly completed high-rise building of the State Audit Office collapsed.