A 5.4-magnitude earthquake was detected near Myanmar’s southern coast on Thursday morning, with tremors felt across several areas of Bangkok.
The quake occurred at 9:58am, centred 10 kilometres underground in the Andaman Sea, according to the Earthquake Observation Division of the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD).
Its epicentre was located about 211 kilometres southwest of Mae Sot district in Tak province, said Natthawut Dandee, deputy director-general of the department and acting director of the division.
The Department of Mineral Resources attributed the quake to a slip along the Sagaing Fault, a major fault line running north to south through central Myanmar.
The same fault also triggered the March 28 earthquake that caused widespread damage and fatalities in both Myanmar and Thailand.
In Bangkok, several residents reported the tremors to the TMD website, saying they felt dizzy or saw lamps shaking.
Most reports came from people inside buildings taller than 10 stories. In Din Daeng district, workers at the Ministry of Labour offices fled outdoors after feeling the shaking.
One report from the 11th floor of the Prime Building in Klong Toey Nuea, Watthana district, said the tremors lasted around 10 seconds at about 10am.
Other reports came from Ratchathewi, Pathum Wan, Bang Kae, Huai Kwang, Phaya Thai, Bang Rak and Khlong San districts.
Santi Pailoplee, a geology professor at Chulalongkorn University, said the quake was not severe and urged the public to remain calm.
“This quake did not forecast anything, it was normal activity by the fault,” he said, explaining that tremors are often felt in Thailand because the country sits on a fault plate.
Amorn Pimanmas, president of the Thai Structural Engineers Association, said the slip occurred in a different area from the March 28 quake.
Although less serious, the epicentre was closer to Bangkok, about 400–500 kilometres away, which could affect some tall buildings.
He noted that Bangkok’s soft clay layer can amplify tremors by three to four times and generate longitudinal waves, which particularly affect high-rise structures.
However, he stressed that the quake has not impacted building safety. He advised the public not to panic and to follow updates from reliable channels.
