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21 August 2025
Writer Rattanavalee Kiatniyomsak
A professor from the Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University has organized an online course, “Earthquake, a Terrifying Wrath,” to monitor the powerful fault activities in Thailand, while pointing out that the clay layer of the Bangkok sedimentary basin absorbed and amplified the tremors and suggesting Cell Broadcast, a disaster alert, to reduce future calamities.
An 8.2 magnitude earthquake centered on Mandalay, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, turned one ordinary day—Friday, March 28, 2025—into an unforgettable one, especially for the residents of Bangkok. Several high-rise buildings swayed and cracked, while one building that was under construction tragically collapsed and buried many lives under the rubble.
It was the shocking event that many people said was “the first time in their lives.” It was not expected that Bangkok would feel such a strong shaking. Several people did not know what to do or how to react in time. The questions that followed included, “Will it happen again?” When will the alert come?
“This is the important lesson that gives us an idea of what an earthquake is like,” said Professor Dr. Punya Charusiri, head of the Research Unit for Earthquake and Tectonics Geology, Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University. “This is similar to the tsunami disaster; if it happens again for the second time, I believe the death toll would be less. During this recent earthquake, it was very chaotic—some people freaked out and didn’t know what to do. But if it happens again in the future, there will be fewer deaths as well, because we are now more aware.”
The recent earthquake may have alarmed many people, but from now on, we need to increase awareness, knowledge, and warning measures and handle the situation better, as this past earthquake will not be the last! “An earthquake of magnitude 8 is likely to happen again,” Prof. Dr. Punya said.
Since two years ago (2022), Prof. Dr. Punya has presented and launched the “Earthquake, Terrifying Wrath” online course on the Chula MOOC platform to allow students and the general public to apply for free admission. The course contains 12 subjects covering topics ranging from the cause of earthquakes and the definition of an active fault to the assessment of areas in Thailand that are vulnerable to earthquakes, as well as what to do prior to, during, and post-earthquakes, etc.
“Faults are like sleeping giants. When they wake up, losses and catastrophes will follow.”
Prof. Dr. Punya explained that a fault is a fracture that moves and causes an earthquake. Generally, there are two types of faults, based on their activities.
“The Sagaing Fault is the world’s second largest after the San Andreas Fault in California, USA. The Sagaing Fault is considered to be the most destructive in Southeast Asia and has the potential for earthquakes every 80 years.”
The Sagaing Fault is an active fault that caused the recent March 28 earthquake. The 1,200-kilometer-long Sagaing Fault is the right lateral fault that stretches from the northern part of Myanmar to the central part of the country, reaching Bago, Yangon, and all the way to the Gulf of Martaban.
“The Sagaing Fault consists of five segments. The recent earthquake happened in the Mandalay area. However, it can repeat before 80 years because there were earthquakes in the other segments before, such as in 1939, in the south section, and another time in the northern part of the fault line in a different year.”
Prof. Dr. Punya said that Chulalongkorn University has partnered with the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) to conduct research and contribute to the compilation of an active faults map in Thailand. According to the official announcement by the Department of Mineral Resources, Thailand, has 16 active fault groups, including the Khlong Marui Fault Group, the Three Pagodas Fault Group, the Theun Fault Group, the Pua Fault Group, the Phayao Fault Group, the Phetchabun Fault Group, the Moei Fault Group, the Mae Chan Fault Group, the Mae Ta Fault Group, the Mae Lao Fault Group, the Mae Ing Fault Group, the Mae Hong Son Fault Group, the Ranong Fault Group, the Wieng Haeng Fault Group, the Si Sawat Fault Group, and the Uttaradit Fault Group.
“Of the 16 faults, there are two major faults in the South and 2–3 in the West. Most of the faults are in the north, meaning that the chance of an earthquake in the north is greater than in the west and south. However, this does not mean that the earthquake in the north has to be stronger and larger than in other regions.” Prof. Dr. Punya said.
Apart from the active faults in the north, the south, and the west, the Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, recently conducted a more detailed study and found the “Ta Kaek Fault Group” on the Lao border opposite Nakhon Phanom and Bueng Kan provinces.
“This new discovery dictates a revision of the current seismic map to include Nakhon Phanom province as well. In the future, topographic data has to be revised to reflect potential disasters more accurately.”
Prof. Dr. Punya added that knowing the locations of the active fault lines will help us recognize the potential for earthquakes in the area and prepare for crisis response.
“This data is available from the Department of Mineral Resources, including a detailed topographic map to the level of subdistrict coordinates. It is especially useful to know whether we are entering danger zones. For example, the Mae Chan fault can be seen to run from the Muang Chiang Rai District through the Chiang Saen District and pass the Mae Chan District as well. This fault line is the scary one among geologists. Next is the Srisawat Fault Group and the Three Pagodas Fault Group in Kanchanaburi Province. These fault lines in Thailand can cause earthquakes with magnitudes of 5 – 7.”
Even at around 1,000 kilometers from the epicenter of the earthquake, why did Bangkok’s residents sense more shaking than any other province?
Prof. Dr. Punya explained, “Bangkok is a lowland river basin consisting of very thick sedimentary layers with a clay layer at a depth of about 20 meters. Once a seismic activity radiates from the point of origin, such as the Srisawat Fault Group, the Three Pagodas Fault Group, or the Sagaing Fault, in all directions and reaches Bangkok, the force of the seismic waves is absorbed by the clay layer under Bangkok. That absorbed seismic force gets amplified by the clay layer, then distributed to the perimeter of Bangkok just like radio waves.”
The clay layer is not only restricted to Bangkok, but it’s likely to be present in other provinces as well.
“This kind of sedimentary basin is scary. It is the responsibility of geologists and geotechnical engineers to check if this kind of sedimentary basin with a layer of clay that can amplify the earthquake is found in other places. We must be aware that there is a possibility of this happening, but do not panic.” Prof. Dr. Punya said.
When an earthquake strikes, no matter how severe, one of the most common concerns is, “Will the dams break?”
Prof. Dr. Punya responded, “An international rule prevents major dam construction on active faults. Yet, geologists stationed at agencies such as the Royal Irrigation Department, which builds small dams, or levees, or those working at the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), which owns dams, must carefully check that the dams are not located on active faults.”
“Long valleys often have faults, and they are where engineers often choose to build dams because of cost savings and ease of water volume calculation. But this is dangerous if any of the faults are active. For this reason, geologists must thoroughly investigate the faults on which the dams and levees are.”
In response, EGAT has confirmed that Srinagarindra Dam, Vajiralongkorn Dam (formerly known as Khao Laem Dam), and Bhumibol Dam have no problem with rupture because they are not built on active faults.
Many people have asked why the recent earthquake was not alerted by an early warning system. Prof. Dr. Punya clarified that earthquakes can be alerted based on location, but not on the time of occurrence.
“Geologists can mark the locations and likely magnitude of the active faults on the map, but not when earthquakes will happen.
“Cell Broadcast technology and other high-tech tools, such as those used in Japan, can send early warnings, but not a forecast. An early warning of 4 seconds can help people in the subways to evacuate or move to the safe zones and can save up to 40,000 lives.”
Prof. Dr. Punya said that the Cell Broadcast warning system can be used for disaster alerts, such as heavy rain, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, etc.
“Cell Broadcast Notifications must be timely to save lives. The alert should contain the specific locations of the disaster. In the event of an earthquake, it is necessary to report the magnitude so people can keep watch. For example, those who live on steep terrain must be careful when there is an aftershock, as a landslide may follow.”
The above information is part of the materials that Prof. Dr. Punya uses in his online course “Earthquake—Terrifying Wrath” on the Chula MOOC platform.
“I will talk about what to do during and after an earthquake. For before the earthquake, I will try to focus on the general knowledge that earthquakes are not a human act; most of them are natural phenomena.”
The “Earthquake—Terrifying Wrath” online course consists of 11 lessons:
The public can apply for free classes at https://www.mycourseville.com/?q=onlinecourse/course/51586.For students and Chulalongkorn University staff, take the course at https://www.mycourseville.com/?q=onlinecourse/course/24100.
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