Sukhothai records magnitude 2.0 earthquake with no damage reported

The Earthquake Observations Division of the Thai Meteorological Department recorded the tremor at 5.46am in Khlong Maphlap subdistrict, Si Nakhon district.

Its epicentre was located at 17.306°N, 99.929°E at a depth of four kilometres, making it a shallow earthquake.

At magnitude 2.0, the event falls within the lowest range of the reference scale cited in the report. Earthquakes measuring between 1.0 and 2.9 are generally too weak to be felt by people but can be detected by monitoring instruments.

The reference scale states that earthquakes measuring 3.0-3.9 may be felt by people indoors, while those between 4.0 and 4.9 can cause household objects and windows to shake.

Tremors measuring 5.0-5.9 may move furniture and cause cracks in walls, while earthquakes of 6.0-6.9 can seriously damage or cause the collapse of less resilient buildings. Events of magnitude 7.0 or higher can cause widespread structural damage and ground ruptures.

Although the Sukhothai earthquake caused no reported damage, the event will form part of seismic data used to monitor underground activity in northern Thailand.

TMD records showed several other earthquakes in Thailand and neighbouring countries during the preceding 24 hours.

A magnitude 3.8 earthquake was recorded in Vietnam at 6.04am on Tuesday at a depth of 10 kilometres, followed in the list by the Sukhothai event at 5.46am. Another magnitude 3.6 quake was recorded in Vietnam at 4.36am, also at a depth of 10 kilometres.

On Monday, a magnitude 2.0 earthquake was recorded in Myanmar at 9.05pm, while a magnitude 3.8 event occurred in Vietnam at 8.55pm. Both were recorded at depths of 10 kilometres.

Members of the public can follow earthquake information around the clock through the Thai Meteorological Department’s earthquake monitoring website and the Earthquake TMD app for iOS and Android.