5.3 Magnitude Myanmar Earthquake Rattles Bangkok High-Rises
A 5.3 magnitude earthquake off Myanmar's southern coast sent tremors through Bangkok on Monday, prompting evacuations of high-rise buildings where residents on upper floors reported noticeable swaying; no damage was reported.
BANGKOK — 18 May 2026, A 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the southern coast of Myanmar on Monday morning, sending distinct tremors across Bangkok and prompting evacuations of high-rise buildings in the Thai capital.
Thailand's Earthquake Observation Division (TMD) said the quake struck at 09:05 local time near the southern coast of Myanmar. The epicenter was located at a depth of 10 kilometers, about 247 kilometers southwest of Mae Sot District in Tak Province.
The tremor posed no immediate threat to structures in Thailand, and no damage has been reported so far. Updates will follow if further details emerge.
Workers gathered at designated safety points outside several high-rise buildings across the city following the tremors.
Comments posted on the Earthquake TMD Facebook page showed residents on upper floors of skyscrapers in major Bangkok districts including Don Mueang, Phaya Thai, Bang Rak, Huai Khwang, Pathum Wan, Khlong Toei, and Chatuchak reporting noticeable tremors.
Selected comments from residents reporting the tremors online: • "19th floor, Gems Tower. Strongly felt!" • "5th floor at Lam Sali Intersection, Ramkhamhaeng. Felt it slightly twice." • "Felt it here in Chiang Mai. 6th floor, felt the building swaying." • "10th floor in Asoke. Felt it." • "Strongly felt in Phra Pradaeng. We're at King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi and have already evacuated the building."
Tremors were felt across Bangkok Metropolitan Region, especially on upper floors of tall buildings where people noticed structures swaying and light fixtures swinging. The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) building in Bangkok experienced significant swaying, with hanging lights visibly moving.
Officials quickly evacuated staff from the building as a precaution and inspected the structure and internal systems.
Although the quake's epicenter was outside Thailand, experts said Bangkok's soft clay soil can amplify seismic waves, allowing tremors from distant earthquakes to be felt across the capital.
