Analyze on Effect and Building Regulation in Northern Thailand's Earthquake, May 2014: Chiangmai's Residents Risk Perception and Response to Earthquake

After 05th May 2014, a magnitude of 6.3 struck Chiangrai province, where locate at northern part of Thailand. It was the strongest earthquake ever recorded occurs in the country, according to National Disaster Warning Center. This earthquake caused damage to buildings, houses, schools and historical buildings and creating many problems for resident's life and so far, are continue rising fear to the residents who live in risk zone (10 provinces in North and plus Bangkok: Kanchanaburi, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Tak, Nan, Phayao, Phrae, Lampang, Lamphun and Mae Hong Son) what should we plan if future quakes from 7 active-fault lines in North are active in stronger shakes. This study would like to 1. Summarize the policy and building regulations. 2. Analyze response and resident's perception in earthquake situation of May 2015. According to Ministerial Regulation B.E. 2550, The law stipulated that Thailand's tall buildings (15 meters or higher) must be built to withstand more than magnitude 6 and tall building constructed after 2007 have to follow on Earthquake Resistant Design of Structures to able to the stand up to 7 magnitude, So the building are safer from earthquake damage compare to buildings in another areas. Nevertheless this regulation not cover to individual households where most of residents living and also not cover many type of public building such as temple or not enforce the building that built before 2007 to be earthquake resist. The situations are still risk for future damage, too.