Strong quake jolts Thailand

At least one person was killed in a 6.3-magnitudeearthquake that occurred in northern Thailand’s Chiang Rai province on Mondayevening.The quake, at a depth of 10 kilometres struck just after 6pm local time. Theepicentre was in Chiang Rai’s Phan district.Aftershocks were felt through the whole night. The National Disaster Warning Centrehas warned residents in the province to stay at safe places for six to 12 hours asmore aftershocks were expected, more than four times per hour. Many residentsremain in panic.Eighteen Chiang Rai districts were shaken in the strong quake. Phan and Mae Laowere the hardest-hit districts, according to (MCOT online news)Many Buddhist temples, hospitals were damaged as well as the roads were cracked.People were evacuated from department stores, commercial buildings and hotelsafter they felt the tremor.