Phuket will be shaken by a series of mild tremors for about a month following the 4.3-magnitude earthquake that hit the resort island on Monday, seismologists have warned.
Minor earthquakes of around 1 to 2 on the Richter scale could occur in the province in the coming weeks until an active fault line finishes adjusting itself, said Suwit Kosuwan, director of the Mineral Resources Department's Active Fault Research Division yesterday.
A 4.3-magnitude earthquake was detected in tambon Si Sunthon in Thalang district at 4.44pm on Monday, prompting locals and tourists to flee buildings in panic. The quake was generated by a small branch of the Klong Marui fault line, spanning Surat Thani, Krabi and Phangnga provinces.
Mr Suwit said the two major earthquakes measured at 8.6 and 8.2 near Indonesia's Sumatra island last Wednesday might have sparked the movement of the Klong Marui fault line, leading to the Phuket tremors.
Another active fault line that might have been affected by the Sumatra quake was the 270km Ranong fault line, which lies across Ranong, Chumphon and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces, he said.
Nine aftershocks were detected following the Phuket earthquake. The latest one, measured at 3.1, took place about noon yesterday.
Lertsin Raksaskulwong, the Environmental Geology and Geohazard Bureau director, played down fears of a major earthquake in the country.
"The largest earthquake ever in Thailand was magnitude 5.9 in Kanchanaburi province in 1983," said Mr Lertsin.
Phuket deputy governor Somkiat Sangkhaosutthirak yesterday declared Thalang district an earthquake disaster zone to facilitate compensation payments for people affected by Monday's tremors. Local authorities surveyed the damage in Thalang district and found 33 houses sustained cracks in Ban Bangkham and Ban Khuan Tathaen villages in the tambon Si Sunthon area. No injuries were reported.
Mr Somkiat said local officials would also check buildings aged between 80 and 120 years in Phuket city as well as high-rises to prepare earthquake response measures.
Somjit Singkorn, a quake-affected villager from tambon Si Sunthon, said Monday's earthquake was the biggest she had ever experienced.
"Villagers are now living in fear as the tremors occurred many times. We want the government to install a warning system in our neighbourhood. The system can save our lives in case of a major disaster," she said.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday ordered state authorities to improve the disaster warning system and insisted her government was not reckless with regard to the issue.
However, she admitted to some flaws in communication between authorities during emergency periods.
She also suggested local people use SMS to communicate instead of making phone calls after Phuket's mobile network was overloaded following Monday's earthquake.
Thakorn Tanthasit, secretary-general of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, said he has asked public broadcasters and amateur radio networks to help report earthquakes to the public.
Somsak Khaosuwan, director of the National Disaster Warning Centre, said the existing warning system was reliable.
If there is a minor earthquake, Mr Somsak said people should follow the instructions of the provincial governor, who has full authority to issue disaster warnings and evacuation orders.
Minor earthquakes of around 1 to 2 on the Richter scale could occur in the province in the coming weeks until an active fault line finishes adjusting itself, said Suwit Kosuwan, director of the Mineral Resources Department's Active Fault Research Division yesterday.
A 4.3-magnitude earthquake was detected in tambon Si Sunthon in Thalang district at 4.44pm on Monday, prompting locals and tourists to flee buildings in panic. The quake was generated by a small branch of the Klong Marui fault line, spanning Surat Thani, Krabi and Phangnga provinces.
Mr Suwit said the two major earthquakes measured at 8.6 and 8.2 near Indonesia's Sumatra island last Wednesday might have sparked the movement of the Klong Marui fault line, leading to the Phuket tremors.
Another active fault line that might have been affected by the Sumatra quake was the 270km Ranong fault line, which lies across Ranong, Chumphon and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces, he said.
Nine aftershocks were detected following the Phuket earthquake. The latest one, measured at 3.1, took place about noon yesterday.
Lertsin Raksaskulwong, the Environmental Geology and Geohazard Bureau director, played down fears of a major earthquake in the country.
"The largest earthquake ever in Thailand was magnitude 5.9 in Kanchanaburi province in 1983," said Mr Lertsin.
Phuket deputy governor Somkiat Sangkhaosutthirak yesterday declared Thalang district an earthquake disaster zone to facilitate compensation payments for people affected by Monday's tremors. Local authorities surveyed the damage in Thalang district and found 33 houses sustained cracks in Ban Bangkham and Ban Khuan Tathaen villages in the tambon Si Sunthon area. No injuries were reported.
Mr Somkiat said local officials would also check buildings aged between 80 and 120 years in Phuket city as well as high-rises to prepare earthquake response measures.
Somjit Singkorn, a quake-affected villager from tambon Si Sunthon, said Monday's earthquake was the biggest she had ever experienced.
"Villagers are now living in fear as the tremors occurred many times. We want the government to install a warning system in our neighbourhood. The system can save our lives in case of a major disaster," she said.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday ordered state authorities to improve the disaster warning system and insisted her government was not reckless with regard to the issue.
However, she admitted to some flaws in communication between authorities during emergency periods.
She also suggested local people use SMS to communicate instead of making phone calls after Phuket's mobile network was overloaded following Monday's earthquake.
Thakorn Tanthasit, secretary-general of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, said he has asked public broadcasters and amateur radio networks to help report earthquakes to the public.
Somsak Khaosuwan, director of the National Disaster Warning Centre, said the existing warning system was reliable.
If there is a minor earthquake, Mr Somsak said people should follow the instructions of the provincial governor, who has full authority to issue disaster warnings and evacuation orders.
