Crack scare sparks Bangkok evacuations but no quake recorded
Panic swept through parts of Bangkok this morning as multiple buildings were evacuated over reports of mysterious vibrations and cracks, despite the Government of Thailand insisting there was no earthquake.
The drama unfolded around 10am, today, March 31, with affected locations including Building A of the Government Complex on Chaeng Watthana Road, the Ministry of Labour in Din Daeng, and court buildings on Ratchadaphisek Road.
Staff at the Government Housing Bank headquarters in Huai Khwang, the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek, and the Social Security Office in Din Daeng were also told to leave as a precaution, Bangkok Post reported.
Rumours spread fast after people inside the Government Complex and the Ministry of Labour reported feeling tremors and spotting worrying cracks. But Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra swiftly reassured the public, confirming that the Thai Meteorological Department had found no evidence of an earthquake in Thailand.
“The aftershocks from Myanmar have no impact on Thailand,” the 38 year old Thai PM said.
Government officials later revealed that the cracks, which sparked the evacuations, were not new.
Building owners have now been ordered to carry out urgent inspections to confirm whether cracks are pre-existing or a fresh cause for concern.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has reaffirmed that structural assessments must be prioritised to ensure safety before any buildings reopen.
The 58 year old Bangkok chief said that those uncertain about a building’s stability are urged to contact the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning or the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) for expert inspections.
While the decision to evacuate buildings rests with individual organisations, officials have stressed that any such action must be based on verified facts, not social media panic. With no confirmed seismic activity in Thailand, officials are urging people to stay calm and rely on official sources for information.
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