Thailand rocked by quake in Laos

BANGKOK (AFP): An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale rocked southern Laos and northern Thai provinces early today but no casualties were reported, Thai officials said. The epicentre of the quake was in a sparsely populated rural area of Laos, 160 kilometres (100 miles) to the northeast of Chiang Mai, Thailand’s northern meteorological center said. The tremor was felt in the northern Thai provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pha Yao, Nan and Phrae. An official at the earthquake centre in Chiang Mai said people living in border districts had reported that the earthquake shook tables and chairs when its struck shortly before 4.00 a.m.