An earthquake occurs when there is a sudden movement of the Earth’s crust due to heat underneath the surface that causes a sudden release, shaking the ground and creating fractures in the rock and fault lines.

Earthquakes are natural phenomena that occur in part due to the presence of humans who affect the Earth’s balance and can stimulate such incidents. For example, mining operations near faults, underground nuclear trials or building a reservoir near faults can trigger a quake. More simply, they can be caused by the operation of heavy machinery, or even traffic. However, those quakes will be less severe than those that occur due to nature, such as those caused by volcanic eruptions.

So what causes an earthquake exactly?

They are caused naturally by a sudden movement of tectonic plates along faults such as volcanic eruptions, which cause the collapse of underground cavities, as well as landslides or large meteors crashing into the Earth.

Why do earthquakes occur in Thailand?

There are two main reasons:

1. If a powerful earthquake occurs in another country, it can affect Thailand. The centers of most earthquakes in the region are found in the southern part of the Republic of China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, as well as in the Andaman Sea and northern Sumatra. The areas in Thailand that are most often affected include the North, South, West, Northeast and Bangkok.

2. An earthquake in Thailand can occur due to a problem along the fault lines that lie in the northern and western parts of the country. These include: Chiang Saen Fault, Mae Tha Fault, Phrae Fault, Thoen Fault, Mei Uthai Thani Fault, Sri Sawat Fault, Chedi Sam Ong Fault and Khlong Marui Fault.