By AIT Public Affairs
On May 15, 2025, The Bangkok Post Knowledge Forum 2025 themed “After the Quake: From Lessons to Prevention. What We Must Know When the World Shifts,” brought together experts to discuss the impacts of the March 28, 2025 earthquake in Myanmar and explore how Thailand can better prepare for similar seismic events. The event was held at the Faculty of Communication Arts, Chulalongkorn University.
Professor Dr. Pennung Warnitchai, Chair of the Structural Engineering Program at the School of Engineering and Technology, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), warned that “Although Bangkok is not situated directly on a fault line, it remains vulnerable to seismic waves from distant earthquakes due to the city’s soft-soil basin. This type of soil can amplify seismic waves by up to four times, posing a direct risk to high-rise buildings.”
He noted that earlier research have identified three major fault lines that could impact Bangkok: the Kanchanaburi Fault (capable of a magnitude 7.0-7.5 quake), the Sagaing Fault in Myanmar (capable of a magnitude 8.0 quake, which triggered the March 28 quake), and the Arakan Subduction Zone in the Andaman Sea (capable of a magnitude 8.5-9.0 quake).”
“Historically, such earthquakes are rare events, and there may be only a 10% chance of such a quake occurring within our lifetime. However, a low probability does not mean zero risk,” Prof. Pennung emphasized.
Professor Dr. Amorn Pimanmas, President of the Thai Structural Engineers Association, noted that while most buildings in Thailand are designed to withstand moderate earthquakes, the March 28 incident signals a need to revisit and upgrade structural standards to ensure greater resilience.
Mr. Poomipak Julmanichoti, Chief Strategy Officer of Sansiri Public Company Limited, stated that all Sansiri buildings remained structurally sound, particularly their core structures. The company conducted inspections on more than 200 projects and assisted over 20,000 residents in filing housing insurance claims.
“Sansiri places high importance on safety and long-term sustainability. We have reinforced foundations in 29 new projects to better prepare for future seismic activity,” Mr. Poomipak added.
Associate Professor Dr. Alongkorn Parivudhiphongs of Chulalongkorn University highlighted critical gaps in public communication and proposed the development of a centralized early warning system with educational components for the public. “We must manage not only emergency alerts but also the misinformation that spreads across social media, which causes confusion during times of crisis,” he said.
The Bangkok Post Knowledge Forum 2025, underscored the need for cross-sector collaboration and proactive preparedness in the face of low-probability but high-impact seismic events. The forum emphasized the importance of strengthening public communication on natural disasters, promoting awareness and understanding of earthquake risks and structural safety, encouraging the development of earthquake-resilient design and construction, and formulating comprehensive disaster preparedness plans at both the community and governmental levels.
