Following recent earthquake tremors, authorities in Thailand have deemed 34 buildings unsafe after nationwide inspections. The assessments, conducted between March 28 and April 1, examined a total of 3,375 structures, revealing that while most buildings were structurally sound, some suffered significant damage.
The Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning (DPT) and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) led the inspections, categorizing buildings into three groups. The first category comprised government structures such as public hospitals, schools, and offices, which were assessed by state agencies and engineering experts. The second category covered private high-rise buildings, hotels, condominiums, and shopping malls, with owners advised to arrange separate specialist inspections. The third group included residential and commercial buildings in Bangkok, for which the BMA was responsible.
In earthquake-affected provinces, local administrative engineers and volunteers conducted assessments under DPT supervision. The department maintains a database of 2,600 licensed inspectors and has advised the public to seek professional evaluations where needed.
Authorities have urged private building owners to ensure structural integrity, with Bangkok officials notifying 11,000 owners to conduct safety checks. So far, 112 have complied. Meanwhile, the Traffy Fondue complaint system has logged over 15,000 public concerns about building safety, with most already addressed.
To facilitate public reporting, the DPT has launched a 24-hour hotline for safety concerns. Officials, including Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, have emphasized the importance of proactive inspections under the 1979 Building Control Act.
