Everything you need to know after nine people die in Bangkok and rescue efforts continue following the Myanmar earthquake, including the latest Foreign Office advice and what your travel insurance covers
Rescue efforts continue in Southeast Asia following a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake that stuck Myanmar at 12.50pm local time (6.20am GMT) on March 28. On Friday, Thailand’s capital was declared a “disaster area” by city authorities — the earthquake’s epicentre was over 640 miles away.
Strong tremors were reported across Thailand, and nine people are thought to have died as a result of the earthquake, including eight who became trapped after a building collapsed in the Chatuchak Park area north of the city centre, close to the large Chatuchak Market popular with tourists. At least 50 people have been injured and 117 people, including workers, remain missing or trapped under the rubble of the 30-storey skyscraper.
Meanwhile, Myanmar has declared a state of emergency across six regions, although Thailand’s deputy prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, has confirmed that in spite of earlier reports, no state of emergency has been declared in Bangkok.
Where was the Myanmar earthquake epicentre?
The earthquake’s epicentre was about 11 miles from Myanmar’s second-largest city, Mandalay, which is home to 1.2 million people. A strong aftershock measuring 6.4 followed 12 minutes later. As well as being felt in Thailand, the earthquake sent shockwaves across southeast Asia, including neighbouring Laos, Bangladesh and China’s Yunnan and Guangxi provinces, as well as northern Vietnam and western Malaysia.
It was reported by Myanmar’s state media that at least 1,002 people in the country have died and 2,376 people have been confirmed as injured. Numerous buildings have either collapsed or been severely damaged, these include: Mandalay University campus buildings, parts of the historic royal palace, Mandalay National Museum, temples and mosques, plus a traffic control tower at Naypyidaw’s international airport. Two bridges have also collapsed.
On Friday afternoon, the United States Geological Survey upgraded the quake’s status to a “red alert” indicative of the potential for extensive damage and high causalities. A number of smaller tremors have rocked Myanmar overnight into Saturday, March 29 and communication lines and power was down in Mandalay and Yangon.
It is the strongest earthquake to strike Myanmar in over a century — the 1912 quake measured 7.9 on the Richter scale.
Which areas of Thailand have been affected?
While over 640 miles away from Mandalay, the quake has caused damage to numerous high-rise buildings in Bangkok. More than 100 construction workers are currently unaccounted for and thought to be trapped under rubble after a Bangkok skyscraper that was under construction collapsed. Bangkok’s governor has been placed in charge of coordinating the disaster response with rescue efforts continuing through the night.
Pools overflowed from the tops of high-rise buildings — including at the InterContinental Bangkok Sukhumvit — many hospitals and hotels were evacuated and people were seen running into the streets in panic as the earthquake was felt. Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport was temporarily closed in the immediate aftermath but is now open again, with flights operating normally.
Some hotels restricted use of communal spaces on March 28, including Rosewood Bangkok, which confirmed that its flagship restaurant and bar, spa and indoor pool had closed. These facilities reopened on Saturday. A number of bars and restaurants have remained cautiously closed in the interest of safety.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration confirmed that two further buildings were evacuated overnight. Some 2,000 buildings in the capital have been registered for safety inspection on Saturday.
Tremors were felt in the far north of Thailand in the city of Chiang Rai, as well as the northern city of Chiang Mai, causing disruption to the airport on Friday afternoon local time. Flights have since resumed and the airport is operating as usual.
On Saturday, it was announced that Airports of Thailand had inspected the structural integrity of six airports — including Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket — and confirmed their structural integrity. Operations are said to be normal.
Is it safe to travel to Thailand?
Soon after the earthquake on Friday, it was reported that Thailand had declared a state of national emergency, but this was quickly refuted by the deputy prime minister, though he maintains that the situation in Bangkok, home to more than 17 million people, is serious.
Local authorities have advised people to act with caution as inspections are carried out on damage to buildings, in particular the city’s high-rise structures. There is currently no active tsunami warning for Thailand.
The Thai prime minster, Paetongtarn Shinawatra took to X on Friday, to assure “fellow citizens that the damaged area is limited.” She also claimed: “The aftershock that will occur after this will be milder to the point of no potential for severity, including no possibility of a tsunami.”
On Saturday, she said that Thailand had “returned to normalcy”.
What is the official Foreign Office advice?
The Foreign Office has issued no advice against travelling to Thailand due to the earthquake at present. At around 9.30am GMT on Friday, March 28, it updated its advice on the situation stating that “strong tremors are reported across Thailand and some damage reported to buildings in Bangkok”. The Foreign Office advised that “there may be aftershocks. If you are in the area or planning to travel there, follow the advice of local authorities or your tour operator and monitor local media.”
The Foreign Office also directed travellers to the US Federal Emergency Management Agency for additional advice about what to do in the event of an earthquake and aftershocks.
What should I do if I am in Thailand already?
If you are in Thailand and need urgent assistance, the Foreign Office recommends you call the British Embassy in Bangkok on 006623058333. You are also advised to follow the advice of local authorities and follow local media. If you booked your trip with a tour operator, you can get in touch with them directly for advice.
On Friday afternoon, the Foreign Office updated its advice to include local emergency numbers.
• General Emergency: 191
• Tourist Police Hotline: 1155
• Fire and Rescue Department: 199
On Friday evening, traffic was at a standstill in the capital as the BTS Skytrain shut down temporarily under emergency protocol for system and track inspections along the network. The BTS Skytrain and rail link to Suvarnabhumi airport reopened on Saturday. The Pink and Yellow Line of the MRT metro system remain closed.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand confirmed that the Din Daeng Expressway has also been closed temporarily for safety inspection. Suvarnabhumi airport has advised travellers to check traffic reports in advance and allow plenty of extra time to travel to the airport.
Can I get a refund if I choose not to travel?
It’s unlikely. You are not automatically entitled to a refund under the Package Travel regulations in the absence of Foreign Office advice against non-essential travel. If you booked your trip directly, a refund is only likely if your flight is cancelled or your accommodation is closed in light of disruption due to the earthquake.
If you are concerned about an upcoming trip to Thailand and booked with a travel agent or tour operator, it is recommended that you call them to discuss your options. If you cancel your trip yourself, this could be considered a “disinclination to travel”, which could possibly leave you out of pocket.
Am I covered by my travel insurance?
It is possible, typically with more expensive policies, that you may be covered for disruption, cancellation or curtailment due to earthquakes. The amount of cover, if any, will vary depending on the policy. Conditions usually state that any disruption must have been unforeseen when you purchased your policy or booked your trip, whichever was later. It is essential that you review your document’s terms and conditions.
Source: The Sunday Times