The earthquake shook Pai 13 times
An earthquake occurred in Pai District, Mae Hong Son Province, with a total of 13 tremors. The strongest quake reached a magnitude of 3.4, while the tremor recorded this morning had a magnitude of 2.9.
The first earthquake occurred on January 19, 2025, at 9.05pm, with a magnitude of 2.8 and a depth of 4 km. Shortly after, several earthquakes were recorded in the same area, with magnitudes of 1.9, 2.2, 1.9, 3.2, 1.8, and 3.4, all at a depth of 1 km.
Later, in the early hours of January 20, 2025, at 12.08am, another earthquake struck in the Wiang Nuea subdistrict. The tremor measured 3.3 on the Richter scale at a depth of 1 km, followed by additional quakes measuring 2.7 and 2.9 at a depth of 2 km, and 1.7, and 2.2, at a depth of 1 km, respectively.
According to the Earthquake Monitoring Division of the Meteorological Department, at 6.53am today, a "Pai earthquake" with a magnitude of 2.9 occurred at a depth of 1 kilometre. The epicentre was located in Wiang Nuea Subdistrict, Pai District, Mae Hong Son Province.
Local residents reported feeling the tremors, and it was later confirmed that more than 13 aftershocks occurred, with the strongest shaking recorded at a magnitude of 3.4.
Upon inspection, no damage to buildings or homes was found. However, officials have provided information to the public to help them understand the situation, reduce panic, and offer guidelines on how to stay safe.
Local elders voiced concerns that the earthquake might be a bad omen, as Pai, once a tranquil town, has experienced growing challenges due to the surge in foreign tourists. Some visitors have been observed engaging in disruptive activities, such as indulging in intoxicants and wearing inappropriate attire in public spaces. This has left Pai’s residents disheartened, fearing that more misfortunes could follow. The earthquake has amplified these anxieties, leaving the community deeply unsettled.
