A strong and shallow M6.1 earthquake hit the Thailand-Laos border area on Thursday morning, November 21, 2019 at 6:50 a.m. local time (Nov. 21 @11:50 p.m. UTC).
The strong shaking sent people fleeing in the streets, buildings swaying in Bangkok and damaged/cracked buildings around the epicenter. Here a compilation of pictures and videos gathered from social networks.
Thailand is techtonically-speaking safe. A number of active faults run across the northern and western parts of the country, but they are not capable of releasing powerful strikes.
Over the past 40 years, Thailand has only experienced one earthquake above M6.0 (M6.1; 2014 Mae Lao earthquake) and 8 mid-sized earthquakes, or approximately 1 every 5 years. The 2014 earthquake was the strongest earthquake ever recorded in Thailand according to National Disaster Warning Center Director Somsak Khaosuwan.
According to this latest statement, the today’s M6.1 quake that hit 31km ESE of Chaloem Phra Kiat, and reported by more than 350 people on the USGS homepage, is Thailand’s strongest tremor (ex aequo).
Now that you are aware of the earthquake situation in Thailand, watch 7 of the most impressive videos and pictures of the rare M6.1 earthquake that hit Thailand yesterday evening:
21/11/62.. 04.00 น. เกิดแผ่นดินไหวขนาด 5.9 ตามมาตราริกเตอร์ ในประเทศลาว ใกล้ชายแดนไทย จ.น่าน ทางทิศตะวันออก ที่ความลึกราว 5.9 ก.ม.เป็นแผ่นดินไหวที่มีระดับความรุนแรงสูงมาก รับรู้ได้ถึงบริเวณจังหวัดน่าน พะเยา แพร่ เชียงใหม่ ลำปาง เลย อุดรธานี ขอนแก่น #แผ่นดินไหว #สปปลาว pic.twitter.com/GIgVdSbTap
— ตมตามตอ (@clip_911) November 21, 2019
#earthquake tremors #Bangkok 6:55 am for 30 seconds. Our chandelier swinging as we ate breakfast, kids were scared. From 9th floor, we went downstairs but the slow rolling feeling has stopped. #Thailand pic.twitter.com/Z3Sd7YbknL
— Paul Risley (@pauldrisley) November 21, 2019
M6.1 Earthquake in Thailand on November 20, 2019, UTC Time (November 21 local time)
The 6.1-magnitude quake hit at a depth of 10km around 6.50 a.m. (23.50 p.m. UTC) local time.
The tremors have been felt across northern Thailand and as far away as Bangkok – more than 600km to the south as well as in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi. There were several aftershocks.
The biggest quake hit 3 hours after a M5.7 struck near the site of the large Xayaburi dam project in Laos, where no damage have been reported yet.
Just after this first quake, the Hongsa Power Plant – Laos’ largest-capacity thermal energy generator – suspended operations.
Hopefully, everyone is ok after this strong quake in Thailand/Laos border. [CNA]
