The National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command Center of Thailand announced that the earthquake disaster response level has been downgraded from level three (major disaster) to level two (moderate disaster). According to the latest response mechanism, Bangkok and the provincial governments are responsible for post-earthquake rescue and post-disaster resettlement, ensuring that the affected people receive timely assistance.
The Prime Minister of Thailand, Prayut Chan-o-cha, confirmed this adjustment on the 31st through social media and released the latest information on building evacuation and structural safety:
Earthquake Monitoring: According to the National Meteorological Administration, there is currently no earthquake activity detected within Thailand, and aftershocks from Myanmar have not had a substantial impact on Thailand.
Building Safety Inspection: Some buildings have been evacuated due to cracks, which were investigated and found to be pre-existing structural cracks, not caused by earthquakes. The Bangkok Municipal Government has requested building owners to immediately conduct professional inspections to clarify the nature of the cracks.
Requirements for Resuming Use: All buildings must complete a structural safety inspection before resuming use. If there are concerns, immediate contact should be made with the Public Works Department and the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department for a joint survey.
Evacuation Decision Authority: Various organizations may decide on evacuation measures based on actual conditions, but all decisions must be based on authoritative information released by the government.
As of now, the disaster situation has not further expanded, and the government has effectively controlled the impact range. The Mayor of Bangkok and the governors of various provinces continue to be responsible for disaster relief coordination, and the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department will continue to provide support to ensure the continuity of rescue operations across regions, helping people return to normal life as soon as possible.
Earthquake Impact Assessment and International Rescue Cooperation
The Director-General of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department of the Ministry of Interior, Mr. Pasa Kong, stated that the strong earthquake in Myanmar has affected multiple areas in Thailand, including Bangkok, the North, Northeast, Central, and South, posing threats to the safety of people's lives and property. After the earthquake, the government quickly raised the response level to three, with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Anutin Charnvirakul, serving as the national disaster relief commander, coordinating the rescue efforts comprehensively.
Currently, the infrastructure, transportation systems, and daily life in the affected areas are gradually returning to normal, and the government continues to provide rescue support. Although the disaster level has been downgraded, relevant departments remain highly vigilant to deal with possible aftershocks and other potential impacts.
The Deputy Mayor of Bangkok, Tawida, revealed that as of 16:30 on March 30, the earthquake had caused 18 deaths, 33 injuries, and 78 people missing in Thailand. International rescue forces are actively participating in the search and rescue operations, with teams from the United States, China, and other countries bringing advanced equipment to assist in the mission.
Regarding assistance for the affected people, the Bangkok Municipal Government will provide aid according to the Disaster Relief Act of 1994 and its 2021 amendment, including: clothing compensation, medical expenses, mental consolation money, funeral subsidies for the families of the deceased, and funding for repairing damaged housing. Residents can apply to their local district offices within 30 days, and specific regulations will be announced separately.
Currently, residents have submitted 11,675 damage reports through the Traffy Fondue system. The Bangkok Municipal Government has completed the assessment of 315 buildings and dispatched 20 teams of volunteer engineers to inspect more than 100 buildings, finding two severely damaged large apartments: one in Chatuchak District (600 residents, 112 people applying for assistance) and one in Pak Kret District (395 residents, 25 people needing assistance). The government is urgently arranging accommodations and requiring specific building owners to cooperate in safety inspections.
The Thailand Apartment Association stated that high-rise residential buildings constructed after 2007 are equipped with earthquake-resistant designs. Currently, minor damages such as wall cracks and ceiling collapses do not affect structural safety. The report from the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department shows that a total of 420 houses, 48 temples, 76 hospitals, 8 buildings, 23 schools, and 18 government agencies in 18 provinces across the country have been damaged.
Thailand and China Strengthen Rescue Cooperation, Full Effort Search and Rescue Within the Golden 72 Hours
On March 30, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Thailand, Anutin Charnvirakul, met with the Chinese Ambassador to Thailand, Han Zhiqiang, and Chinese earthquake rescue experts. Han Zhiqiang expressed condolences on behalf of the Chinese government for the earthquake disaster in Thailand and promised to provide professional rescue personnel, equipment, and material support. The two sides had an in-depth discussion on the rescue operations.
Anutin revealed that Chinese experts assessed that Thailand's rescue operations meet international standards. The government is now in the critical 72 hours after the disaster, making full efforts to search for survivors and urging rescue teams to act quickly to save as many lives as possible.
Flaws in the Early Warning System, Government Urgently Implements Reforms
The earthquake exposed deficiencies in Thailand's disaster early warning system (SMS), with most people not receiving timely alerts, leading to public criticism. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha convened an emergency meeting on the 29th, demanding improvements in system response speed and coverage.
The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department explained that earthquakes cannot be predicted in advance and alerts can only be issued after seismic activity is detected. On March 28 at 14:20, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department sent data to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission for the first time, but it was not until 14:44 that the request to send SMS was received. Due to system limitations, a maximum of 200,000 messages can be sent per round, making the process time-consuming and causing some people to not receive alerts in time.
The government plans to introduce the "Community Broadcast" (Cell Broadcast Service) system in the second quarter of 2025, supporting multilingual alerts (Thai, English, Chinese, Japanese, Russian) with text, image, and voice prompts to enhance the efficiency of early warnings.
Bangkok Enters Emergency State, Government Fully Deploys Disaster Relief
On March 28 at 14:20, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake occurred in central Myanmar, with a depth of 30 kilometers. The tremors were intensely felt in Yangon and affected Thailand, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, and other regions in China. The military government in Myanmar reported over 1,600 deaths and 3,400 injuries, and has issued an international aid request.
The earthquake was clearly felt in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand, with tremors lasting several minutes and some buildings showing cracks. The BTS Skytrain in Bangkok was noticeably shaken. Prayut Chan-o-cha urgently declared Bangkok in a state of emergency and instructed all departments to activate emergency plans, including:
Issuing refuge guidelines through SMS and social media;
Strengthening the medical system to ensure treatment capabilities;
Establishing a 24-hour disaster information center to release official messages.
Earthquake Affects Thailand's Songkran Festival Tourism Industry
The earthquake has caused a short-term impact on Thailand's tourism industry. The chairman of the Thailand Hotel Association (THA), Tianpa Shi, stated that hotels in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and other areas experienced an 8-10% increase in early check-outs, with some tourists rerouting to Pattaya and Phuket. Hotel and tourism industry revenue is expected to decline by 10-15% over the next two weeks.
As the earthquake occurred on the eve of Thailand's traditional New Year, Songkran Festival, it may affect tourists' willingness to travel. The government has promised to strengthen safety measures to ensure tourists can enjoy their vacations with peace of mind. The Minister of Tourism and Sports of Thailand, Sorawong, stated that there have been no reports of injuries to tourists or damage to hotels, and tourism activities are still proceeding normally.
Industry insiders predict that the target for foreign tourists in 2024 may be affected, but the government will take measures to restore confidence in the tourism industry and minimize losses.
