EARTHQUAKE IN THAILAND

IS IT SAFE? 

Aerial view of collapsed Bangkok building
courtesy: Bangkok Post 

The news out of Thailand is horrific. The 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit central Myanmar has killed over 3,000 people in that country. Relief efforts have been hampered by the ongoing civil war.

In Bangkok a building under construction collapsed killing 29 workers with 77 still missing.

We were just in Thailand, and I was beginning to write about Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai that was part of our “Discover Thailand” excursion with Overseas Adventure Travels company (OAT), when the earthquake struck.

Sadly, whatever I write about our experiences in Thailand now needs to be tempered with the realization that what Janet and I have seen may have been damaged in the earthquake.

Two good sources of information about the current situation can be found at The Nation Thailand an English news website for breaking Thai news and the Bangkok Post. Today the Post is reporting that in Thailand there are 34 badly damaged buildings.

THE NATION THAILAND

BANGKOK POST

BOXING DAY TSUNAMI

Southeast Asia is considered one of the world's most geologically "active" areas in the world. On Boxing Day, December 26, 2004, an earthquake even more powerful than last week’s, struck off the island of Sumatra triggering a tsunami that killed 230,000 people. 

damage from the Mae Lao quake

On August 3, 2014, the Mae Lao earthquake struck, the epicenter a few miles away from Chiang Rai and near the airport there. Chiang Rai was another destination on our Thailand road trip. Just one person was killed in that quake, though the Mae Lao earthquake caused USD $61.8 million in damages.

Fingers crossed things are okay at least in Thailand. We contacted our trip leader for our Discover Thailand excursion via WhatsApp and he was already on another tour in Sukhothai, though his wife was still in Bangkok. Details about further damage in Thailand, other than what occurred in Bangkok are sketchy. The U.S. State Department as of March 31^st has said the aftershocks (which are typical) have only affected Myanmar, but not Thailand.

If you are considering travel to Thailand, or any foreign destinations follow the U.S. State Department on Facebook or Twitter for updates on fluid situations or enroll in their Smart Traveler Emergency Program or STEP program. This free service allows U.S. citizens to enroll their trip abroad so the Department of State can accurately and quickly contact them in case of emergency.

US STATE DEPARTMENT STEP PROGRAM 

If you care to donate, the Red Cross and Red Crescent are providing aid as well as Bangkok Community Help. They are accepting money and second hand items not just for Bangkok, but for Myanmar as well.  

BANGKOK COMMUNITY HELP

Safe Travels

Here is a National Geographic special about the Boxing Day Tsunami:

Love Janet and greg

© 2025 by Gregory Dunaj