A magnitude-6.0 earthquake struck in Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand, Monday evening. Initial reports indicated just minor damage and no injuries. The quake struck at 6.08pm local time 27km from the provincial capital Chiang Rai. It was also felt in Bangkok and Burma’s capital Yangon.
9.48pm: This footage shows praying monks fleeing a temple in Chiang Rai, Thailand as the earthquake struck Monday evening:
9.45pm: Some footage from today’s quake in Chiang Rai province:
8.33pm: Thailand’s National Disaster Warning Center says the quake was magnitude-5.8.
8pm: Some roads in Chiang Rai province are badly damaged. Motorists are urged to drive safely in the area near where the quake struck.
Big risk on roads now especially after dark. RT @news1005fm: ความเสียหายจากเหตุแผ่นดินไหวที่เชียงรายวันนี้ pic.twitter.com/QFGMPSu7Fj
— Saksith Saiyasombut (@Saksith) May 5, 2014
7.14pm: The exact location of the earthquake:
7.10pm: For this magnitude of earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey warns:
Expect aftershocks. These secondary shockwaves are usually less violent than the main quake but can be strong enough to do additional damage to weakened structures and can occur in the first hours, days, weeks, or even months after the quake.
7.04pm: Associated Press report suggests just light damage.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or serious damage.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake measured a preliminary magnitude of 6.0 and was centered 9 kilometers (6 miles) south of Mae Lao, Thailand, and 27 kilometers (17 miles) southwest of Chiang Rai. It said it was located at a relatively shallow depth of 7.4 kilometers (4.6 miles).
6.55pm: This tweet purports to show road damage in Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand after Monday evening’s quake.
สภาพถนนแยกที่อ.พาน จ.เชียงรายหลังเกิดแผ่นดินไหวภาพ-ณัฐวัตร ลาพิงค์ pic.twitter.com/4yhzitfWRp
— sakaorat sirima (@baby_nnanorth) May 5, 2014
6.52pm: Apparent structural damage to a building in Chiang Rai, Thailand from Instagram. Caption says the earthquake lasted for almost a minute.
6.48pm: It appears the quake hit much harder in Chiang Rai than Chiang Mai:
Friend of mine in Chiang Rai posted on FB: ”Scary…never felt [earthquake] that [strong]… stuff scattered around.”
— Saksith Saiyasombut (@Saksith) May 5, 2014
6.45pm:
As @PatricLand points out #Thailand‘s nat’l disaster warning center appears to have gone offline: http://t.co/4IM1mnc8Z7
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) May 5, 2014
6.38pm: Associated Press reports, USGS says strong earthquake registering magnitude 6.0 shakes Myanmar [Burma], northern Thai region
6.32pm:
6.0 magnitude #earthquake. 27 km from #ChiangRai, Chiang Rai, Thailand http://t.co/uezTuf8scc
— Earthquake Alerts (@QuakesToday) May 5, 2014
Earthquake in Chiang mai. I can still feel it. The house is rocking under me.
— Catherine (@WomenLearnThai) May 5, 2014
The earthquake was also felt in Bangkok, where skyscrapers shook in the Thai capital.
I’m on 18th floor of a 30-story building in #Bangkok. Definitely a #quake. #Thailand
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) May 5, 2014
There were also early suggestions that the quake could be felt in Yangon, Burma.
Wife just called… they felt what might have been a small earthquake across town in Yangon… we felt nothing at the BBC office.
— Jonah Fisher (@JonahFisher) May 5, 2014