CHIANG RAI, 22 May 2014 – Chiang Rai provincial authorities are quickly providing assistance to locals who have been affected by the earthquake that struck on May 5th.
Homes in areas around the quake’s epicenter have been utterly destroyed, causing distressed locals to live in fear and preventing them from returning to their homes. Even though the quake erupted two weeks ago, there is no sign that aftershocks would end anytime soon. The latest one was a 4.1 magnitude tremor that struck on May 21st.
The quake has also pushed sediments and sand buried underground to emerge and fill up water wells, causing these water sources to become contaminated. For this reason, the locals are faced with an inadequate supply of drinking water.
Provincial Governor Pongsak Wangsamer has also ordered related authorities to provide financial assistance to about 4,700 households in Phan district during May 22nd to 25th. Each household is entitled to approximately 33,000 baht worth of compensation. Assistance to other districts will follow suit once official surveys of their damage are completed.
