Thailand in emergency mode after strongest quake in years

For Rajiamuchan Burgin, a resident of Thailand's capital city, the earthquake on Friday afternoon was the "severest earthquake (that I experienced) since I was born".

Rajiamuchan was driving her car in downtown Bangkok and was stuck in a traffic jam when she felt the tremors.

"My car was shaking while the road signs also swung from left to right. My mind went blind and I was frozen at the moment," she said.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra put the capital city of Bangkok under a state of emergency following a strong earthquake in Myanmar that shook countries in the region, including China and Thailand.

Apart from Bangkok, tremors were also felt in the northern Thailand provinces including Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son after a 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar at midday Friday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand announced "the immediate suspension of all trading activities" for the afternoon session. Trading was also suspended at Thailand's Market for Alternative Investment and the Thailand Futures Exchange.

Transportation was disrupted with the Bangkok Mass Transit System suspending operations on the Sukhumvit Line while the Air Traffic Control issued a nationwide no-fly order for all airports in Thailand.

Later in the afternoon, the Airports of Thailand Public Company announced that six airports under its management, including those in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket, have resumed normal operations as of 2:30 pm.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has declared the Thai capital a Level 2 disaster zone. He ordered the setting up of an earthquake response command center, chaired the emergency meeting and instructed all districts and hospitals to assess damages.

Authorities issued nationwide alerts, advised the public via SMS and media and mobilized security forces. Airports, hospitals, and transport were on standby.

Thailand's police and military were evacuating people from unsafe buildings, aiding victims and managing traffic. Police hospitals were on standby for emergencies.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai visited the collapsed construction site in the district of Chatuchak in Bangkok where three fatalities have been confirmed, according to a report by online newspaper The Nation.

Phumtham identified two major collapse sites: the 34-story Budget Bureau building in Chatuchak and a three-story building in Bang Khun Thian, Bangkok's southernmost district.

When Rajiamuchan rolled down her car window to talk with a driver nearby, she said: "We just felt hard to believe. And it was really scary as we were all afraid of the possibility that the road may fall apart, but feel helpless because we could do nothing about it. I could only pray that it won't happen with another hit."

This reporter of China Daily in Bangkok personally experienced the sudden and intense shaking on Friday. It continued for a few seconds, paused briefly, and then resumed for another ten or more seconds.

Running out to a nearby parking lot, this reporter found streetlights on an elevated expressway, which was about 100 meters away from her, shaking violently.

Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in its latest report that the Meteorological Department and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation are closely monitoring the situation and have warned of possible aftershocks. The Thai Meteorological Department will provide updates through its Facebook account.

Government agencies have likewise issued respective directives to manage the situation. The Ministry of Education has ordered the closure of schools nationwide, the Ministry of Public Health is establishing emergency response centers and the Ministry of Interior has instructed provincial governors to activate command centers.

Contact the writers at yangwanli@chinadaily.com.cn