Earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand.

[Ranb]

Magnitude-7.7 earthquake hits Myanmar, with tremors felt across neighboring Thailand ​

https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/myanmar-thailand-earthquake-03-28-25-intl-hnk/index.html

My wife and I are in Thailand visiting family. My sister in-law and I were relaxing in her condo (9th floor) when the building started to shake and make cracking noises. I picked up some clothes and beat it down the emergency stairwell to the parking lot, trailing behind my sister in-law. The condo has 600 units and there did not seem to be enough people outside until I realized that at least half of the people were probably at work and school.

A few hours later we were allowed back in. Damage to my sister in-law's apartment seems to be limited to superficial cracking of the wall plaster. Management says the building is safe.

 

[a_unique_person]

A multi story building under construction collapsed.

 

[Jack by the hedge]

Eek! I'm glad to hear they think damage is only very superficial but I suspect I'd still be anxious about whether they were right.

I suppose it'll be a while before we learn how bad things are in Myanmar, to the extent that we learn at all.

 

[Ranb]

Eek! I'm glad to hear they think damage is only very superficial but I suspect I'd still be anxious about whether they were right.

My sister in-law is staying in a nearby hotel tonight. Can't say that I blame her.

 

[alfaniner]

A multi story building under construction collapsed.

The amazing thing is -- that happened in Bangkok, 1200 miles from the epicenter in Myanmar. I think the toll in Myanmar will be much worse.
It is interesting, however, that video can be posted and shared within seconds of an event like this happening.

 

[EHocking]

Not too unremarkable. The Thai people are avid mobile phone users and heavily internet reliant and have a reputation as being very tech savvy.
It would be more remarkable if a Thai had not posted within seconds of a significant event!

 

[William Parcher]

USGS estimates death toll to exceed 10,000.

 

[Hercules56]

Earthquakes are not fun. We had one several months ago and I swear to God this damn house rumbled. Seems like it would last forever. Could not believe the Aftershock.

Glad you are okay feel horrible for the people. Seeing those buildings collapse on TV was terrible.

 

[a_unique_person]

USGS estimates death toll to exceed 10,000.

I assume the USGS will be shut down next week.

 

[William Parcher]

CNN: More than 1,600 dead so far.

 

[arthwollipot]

I assume the USGS will be shut down next week.

This is the kind of disaster where international aid really helps.

 

[Dabop]

The international airport in Nay Pyi Taw is shut, the control tower collapsed killing all inside...

 

[novaphile]

I'm intrigued and appalled by the number of images I've seen of multi-storey buildings (3 to 5 floors or thereabouts) that have partially collapsed and tipped over.

It looks like the under-storey (parking area maybe?) has failed, allowing the buildings to fall into the gap below.

This makes me wonder if there is something inherently flawed in that kind of design, something that makes an undercroft less stable than the rest of the building.

The Thai building (under construction) that failed, is terrifying to watch.

It collapsed so quickly.

Again, that makes me wonder about the structural rigidity of a building that's under construction.

You never know, it's possible that all buildings would fail if caught in that particular phase during construction.

 

[Ranb]

My sister in-law's condo is safe to occupy; they claim. Management also says they will be repairing individual damaged units free of charge. The unit's damage is limited to superficial cracking of the plaster on one of her walls. I saw video of condos with swimming pools on the top floor losing some of the water over the side of the building. The building I was in had the poll on the 7th floor, I guess it did not move as much.

 

[Darat]

I bet she is quite suspicious of that reassurance?

 

[Ranb]

Yes and no. She believes that the condo is still safe. She has to wait and see if the repairs will be done for free.

 

[Trebuchet]

This is the kind of disaster where international aid really helps.

Fortunately the USA has a specific agency to help with that.
Oh, wait....

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

I'm intrigued and appalled by the number of images I've seen of multi-storey buildings (3 to 5 floors or thereabouts) that have partially collapsed and tipped over.

It looks like the under-storey (parking area maybe?) has failed, allowing the buildings to fall into the gap below.

This makes me wonder if there is something inherently flawed in that kind of design, something that makes an undercroft less stable than the rest of the building.

The Thai building (under construction) that failed, is terrifying to watch.

It collapsed so quickly.

Again, that makes me wonder about the structural rigidity of a building that's under construction.
You never know, it's possible that all buildings would fail if caught in that particular phase during construction.

Buildings under instruction are not finished and even small ones fail in moderate winds until all the bracing, connections and cladding are in place. Not that surprising when you think about it.

 

[novaphile]

Buildings under instruction are not finished and even small ones fail in moderate winds until all the bracing, connections and cladding are in place. Not that surprising when you think about it.

Indeed, the external cladding could be providing assistance as lateral bracing.

 

[Darat]

Yeah I don't think even if somewhere has tough, enforced building regulations regarding earthquake "proofing" buildings that could be applied when they are being built, they are going to be vulnerable to earthquakes the final building could withstand.