Researcher sounds Thai quake alarm
Thailand is at risk of moderate earthquakes following a 7.4-magnitude temblor off northeastern Japan on November 22, an academic warned on November 22. Asst Prof Passakorn Pananont, who is conducting research into seismic risk reduction in Thailand at the Thailand Research Fund, said areas around Bangkok could be hit by moderate quakes resulting from the 7.4 magnitude tremor that struck off the northeastern coast of Japan yesterday morning. The quake also triggered a 1.4-metre tsunami in Sendai. Last week, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake rocked central New Zealand, creating 1-metre tsunami that hit the country’s northeast coast. Asst Prof Passakorn, who also works at Kasetsart University’s Earth Sciences Department, said both countries where the earthquakes occurred sit on the Ring of Fire, an area in the Pacific Ocean where many quakes and volcanic eruptions occur.
