BANGKOK, 16 January 2013 A Japanese engineering firm will inspect Thai buildings, especially schools in Bangkok, and make suggestions on how to improve their structures to enable them to handle earthquakes.
Association of Natural Disaster Prevention Industry President Pran Siamwalla revealed that even though Thailand has a smaller chance of being the epicenter of an earthquake, it is susceptible to ones occurring in the distance. He said many high-rise, particularly school, buildings in Bangkok must be built strong enough to handle seismic activity.
According to Mr Pran, people in tall buildings from time to time could feel tremors caused by earthquakes occurring in neighboring countries. As Bangkok is situated on muddy plains, he explained, the tremor could intensify by 14 times; capable of demolishing high-rise structures.
Meanwhile, Miyamoto International CEO and President Kit Miyamoto said his company will inspect schools across Bangkok and give advice to teachers and students on how to prepare for and cope with earthquake situations.
Miyamoto International is a global earthquake and structural engineering firm that provides critical services to help sustain industries and communities around the world. Its engineers provided assistance to China during the 2008 earthquake. It has also inspected and reinforced the structures of schools damaged by earthquakes in Turkey and Haiti.
