Indonesian Earthquake Felt in Krabi, Cracks Found in Homes
A 6.8 magnitude earthquake centered near North Sumatra was felt across southern Thai provinces including Krabi on August 16, with authorities investigating cracks discovered in homes in the Laem Pong area.
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck near North Sumatra, Indonesia at 5:54 p.m. on August 16, and was felt across several southern Thai provinces including Songkhla, Trang, Krabi, Phuket, and Satun. Krabi Provincial Public Relations Officer Pathompong Kaewbanthit confirmed the tremor was noticeable in tall buildings such as Krabi Hospital and various hotels in Ao Nang and Nong Thale subdistricts in Muang District. No official damage reports had been filed at the time of the announcement.
Village headman Somsak Tebbutr of Koh Kwang-Laem Pong in Nong Thale Subdistrict said a survey of residents' homes revealed multiple concrete structures on hillsides with visible cracks in the Laem Pong area. Authorities are investigating whether the cracks resulted from this earthquake or pre-existing structural issues.
Theerasak Thongmart, head of Krabi's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, stated that the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has ordered continuous monitoring of seismic activity around the clock. Coordination is ongoing with provincial authorities, local government organizations, and relevant agencies to inspect areas and high-rise buildings that experienced noticeable tremors, ensuring public safety and reassurance.
