Bangkok and Mineral Resources Department Meet with Japanese Experts to Discuss Earthquake Response Measures Following the State Audit Office Building Collapse
Today (May 8, 2025), Ms. Thawida Kamolvech, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, participated in a consultation and exchange of views on earthquake preparedness and response measures at the Department of Mineral Resources meeting room. Mr. Pichit Sombatmak, Director-General of the Department of Mineral Resources, chaired the meeting, which was attended by earthquake safety experts from Japan.
Mr. Pichit stated that this was an important day to discuss earthquakes and natural disasters. Previously, earthquake situations typically had minimal impact on Thailand. However, after the recent earthquake that caused the collapse of the State Audit Office building, public concern has grown significantly. This prompted the invitation of relevant agencies to today’s consultation. He noted that earthquakes are natural disasters that have occurred for a long time and happen almost daily.
Mr. Porapol Adireksarn, advisor to the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, announced that they had invited Dr. Kit Miyamoto (Global CEO, Miyamoto International), a Japanese-American structural engineer, founder and CEO of Miyamoto International, a world-class structural engineering organization and earthquake safety expert. Dr. Miyamoto will share knowledge and experiences from earthquakes he has personally encountered worldwide to prepare prevention plans and reduce losses, following Thailand’s experience with a severe earthquake on March 28. After today’s meeting, collaborations are expected to be established with relevant Bangkok Metropolitan Administration departments and the private sector.
Ms. Thawida, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, emphasized that the recent earthquake demonstrated the robust strength of buildings in Bangkok, with only the State Audit Office building collapsing. The cause of this collapse is still under investigation. From today’s discussion, the Department of Mineral Resources plans to conduct a review survey of Bangkok areas, which she considers beneficial. Additionally, Bangkok has joined the UN’s Resilient City program, which assesses a city’s readiness to handle various situations and its recovery capabilities.
One of Bangkok’s action plans addresses earthquakes and related hazards. When discussing building structures, foundation aspects are critical, and the Department of Mineral Resources’ expertise will greatly benefit Bangkok. Another highlight was Dr. Kit Miyamoto’s presentation on strengthening buildings, enhancing structural flexibility, and implementing warning systems. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is particularly interested in monitoring equipment that can assess earthquake impacts on buildings, especially hospitals. The recommendations provided are considered highly valuable.
Note: This article has been translated and adapted from the original Thai language source published by INN News. For the original article, please visit: https://www.innnews.co.th/news/news_876099/
