More than 3,000 Thai govt buildings damaged in earthquake

The powerful 8.2-magnitude earthquake near Mandalay, Myanmar, on March 28 has left a trail of destruction across Thailand, with over 3,000 government buildings affected, according to the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning (DPT).
As of today, April 2, the DPT reported that 3,375 government buildings had been inspected following the quake, with 34 deemed severely damaged and unfit for use.
The damage assessment team, including the Council of Engineers Thailand, the Engineering Institute of Thailand, and 110 volunteer engineers, worked quickly to inspect the affected buildings.
Of the 367 government buildings inspected in the Bangkok metropolitan area, 334 were found to be safe, while 30 buildings had sustained moderate damage but remained usable. Unfortunately, three buildings and one bridge were severely damaged and deemed unsafe.

In provincial areas, 3,008 buildings were inspected, with 2,796 found to be safe. However, 181 buildings suffered moderate damage and remain in use, while 31 were severely damaged and prohibited from use due to the risk of collapse.
Nationwide, the total damage from the earthquake included 221 buildings with moderate damage, while 34 government buildings were left in a state of severe disrepair.
The DPT urged owners of high-rise buildings, hotels, condominiums, dormitories, and shopping malls to hire certified inspectors for thorough damage assessments, following specific guidelines to ensure safety and structural integrity.

On Sunday, March 30, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt called for the owners of approximately 11,000 buildings across the capital to assess their properties’ safety. He stressed that the request was for cooperation, highlighting the importance of ensuring that no further incidents occur due to earthquake-related damage, reported The Nation.
As Thailand continues to recover from the shock, officials are prioritising the safety of its buildings, with further inspections and structural assessments underway to prevent future disasters.
In similar news, as of March 31, four government buildings have been temporarily closed due to dangerous cracks, pending expert inspections and repairs. Pongnara Yenying, DPT director general, provided an update on the damage assessment.
The inspection, which followed the earthquake on March 28, categorised affected structures into public, private, and government buildings, including hospitals, schools, and government offices.