Bangkok: Villagers in Suwannakhuha District, Nong Bua Lamphu Province, were taken by surprise following an earthquake that struck the area. The residents reported experiencing a tremor unlike any they had encountered before, prompting immediate inspections of local infrastructure, particularly the reservoir.
According to Thai News Agency, the earthquake occurred at 1:36 a.m. in Boonthan Subdistrict, registering a magnitude of 3.0 at a depth of 4 kilometers. The Department of Mineral Resources suggested that the tremor, considered minor, might have been triggered by activity along the Phetchabun-Loei Fault.
Residents like Mrs. Boontem, who was awake during the event, recounted the moment when the earthquake hit. Initially attributing the noise to playful cats on her roof, she soon realized the vibrations were more intense, likening them to children running on her bed. The experience lasted about three seconds and left her in fear. The quake was strong enough to knock over a fan, breaking its blades.
In response, officials from the Nong Bua Lamphu Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, representatives from the Royal Irrigation Department, Region 5, and other relevant authorities conducted thorough inspections of key sites near the earthquake's epicenter. These included the Huai So spillway, Wat Santitham Phatthana, the Huai So Bridge, and the Ban Khlong Charoen and Huai So Reservoirs, all located within a 5.5-kilometer radius of the epicenter.
The inspections concluded with reassuring results, finding no damage or cracks in any structures, and confirming there was no threat to public safety. Authorities advised community leaders to keep residents informed and to follow updates from the Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and the Meteorological Department closely.
