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Thailand Earthquake: Tall Buildings in Bangkok Collapse! Is it true that Thai architecture lacks earthquake-resistant design?
On the afternoon of March 28, 2025, a magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck Myanmar, marking it as the largest earthquake globally this year. Neighboring countries including China, Laos, and Thailand experienced strong tremors. As a result, a building under construction in Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand, collapsed, and several high-rise buildings in Bangkok also swayed, with rooftop infinity pools turning into waterfalls. These unusual phenomena sparked intense discussions online: "Most buildings in Thailand are not earthquake-resistant!"
The majority of buildings in Thailand are not earthquake-resistant?
Thailand is not located on an earthquake fault line, so for a long time, people have generally focused on transportation convenience, living functions, public facilities, and overall comfort when purchasing real estate. Very few pay special attention to the "earthquake resistance" of buildings. Some believe that since Bangkok has never experienced such a large earthquake, the earthquake resistance of local buildings should be relatively weak, and there may not even be mandatory seismic design regulations.
However, the actual situation is not the case!
The collapse of buildings due to earthquakes in Thailand is a rare event, as most structures can withstand seismic activity.
According to reports from Thai media, when the earthquake occurred, Mr. Sato, a Japanese tenant in a 45-story luxury apartment on Sukhumvit Road, was working from home. The moment the chandelier began to sway slightly, he instinctively took cover in the triangular area of the bathroom, but the shaking abruptly ceased after 30 seconds. This moment of alarm served as a real test of Thailand's building earthquake resistance; the super high-rise building, completed in 2018, did not even trigger the safety alarm for the automatic sprinkler system.
Many property management companies promptly dispatched technicians for inspections, and the general feedback indicated that there were surface cracks on some interior walls, which could be repaired in the short term, and the main structural integrity of the building was unaffected.
The history of earthquake resistance evolution in Thailand: Buildings over 15 meters tall must meet three major earthquake resistance and new indicators.
Since the Asian financial crisis in 1997, the Thai government has driven reforms in response to the crisis, leading to significant advancements in building regulations. According to Article 237 of the National Building Standards Act, all buildings over 15 meters must meet three core seismic resistance indicators:
1. Structural integrity that can withstand a magnitude 7 earthquake.
2. Earthquake energy dissipation systems.
3. A redundancy design safety factor of no less than 1.5.
A research report published by the Department of Civil Engineering at Bangkok University shows that between 2010 and 2020, 90% of completed super-tall projects utilized seismic isolation bearing technology developed in Japan, with some landmark buildings even equipped with tuned mass dampers worth millions of Thai baht.
This technological iteration was validated during the 5.4 magnitude earthquake in Chiang Mai in 2023. At that time, an 8-story hotel completed in 1995, located about 80 kilometers from the epicenter, experienced structural cracks; however, a 25-story apartment building completed in 2020 only had some exterior cladding panels fall off. According to data from the Engineering Institute of Thailand, high-rise buildings constructed in compliance with the new regulations had an 83% lower probability of damage during a magnitude 6 earthquake compared to older buildings.
Higher earthquake resistance requirements from quality developers: Brand equals peace of mind.
Top-tier large quality developers in Thailand typically implement earthquake-resistant designs that exceed national standards by 20%. For example, top developers like SANSIRI, AP, ANANDA, and ORIGIN have some projects that have even passed earthquake certification from the British Standards Institution (BSI). Buildings with over 15 floors often utilize a steel-reinforced concrete structure, with earthquake resistance costs accounting for as much as 18-22% of construction expenses.
In other words, for overseas investors who value quality and are concerned about cost-performance ratio, choosing high-rise properties constructed after 2010 by well-known publicly listed developers with the SSGF certification system (Thailand's Safety Building Mark) is equivalent to acquiring safety standards typical of developed countries at the price of a developing nation.
In contrast, projects from small and medium-sized developers show a stark polarization, particularly in low-rise residential buildings under 10 floors, where traditional brick-and-concrete structures are still used. Surveys show that 15% of low-rise projects fail to meet the earthquake resistance standards they claim. Therefore, from both a safety and investment perspective, we often advise buyers to select projects from large, well-known publicly listed developers and to steer clear of properties from unknown small to medium-sized developers, keeping in mind not to be lured by lower prices.
Geographical advantage barrier: Southeast Asia's security oasis.
From the perspective of geological risk, Thailand is located in a relatively stable part of the tectonic plate, not at the junction of tectonic plates, nor on any earthquake fault lines. According to data from the Global Seismic Hazard Assessment Program (GSHAP), the Bangkok area is classified as a "low-risk area." The largest earthquake in Thailand's history was the 2014 Chiang Mai earthquake, which registered a magnitude of 6.3, and its released seismic energy was only 1/1600 that of Japan's Hanshin earthquake.
Furthermore, the "Smart City Building Standards" issued in 2020 require all newly developed areas to establish earthquake early warning systems. Currently, major cities such as Bangkok and Phuket have achieved an early warning capability of 30 seconds in advance. Data from the Thai Insurance Commission indicates that in 2022, there were only 11 cases of residential earthquake insurance claims, with a total payout of less than 200 million baht.
Conclusion: Should you worry about earthquake damage when buying a house in Thailand?
From the above information, it can be seen that Thailand's high-rise buildings have excellent earthquake resistance, with strict government regulations in place. Additionally, renowned developers focus on quality, and the geographical location is not prone to earthquakes. Overall, Thailand remains a "Land of Smiles" that is suitable for foreigners to live in, characterized by few natural disasters, a pleasant climate, diverse culture, abundant tourism resources, and relatively affordable living costs.
If you have any questions regarding earthquake safety in Thailand or real estate investment, feel free to contact us at any time. We are happy to provide you with the latest information and safety advice to help you feel secure in your property acquisition in this smiling country.
