A local school in Chalerm Prakiat district of Nan province has temporarily closed, after its building was damaged by an earthquake in Laos.
The 4.8 magnitude earthquake in Laos was caused by a ground movement from northeast to southwest in Hongsa district. It occurred near a lignite mine belonging to an electricity production company.
Temblors have occurred in the same spot 22 times over the past three days ranging about 16 kilometres northeastward from Ban Nam Chang village in tambon Khun Nan.
The earthquake caused cracks on the beam, 40-50 centimetres long, used to take the weight of the Bang Nam Chang school building on the 2nd floor, raising concerns over student safety.
District chief Kraisorn Nootuan yesterday said the school has been ordered to suspend use of the building by using a meeting hall temporarily.
The building is now being inspected to determine whether the structure is sturdy enough to resume teaching there, he said.
Some 2.8 million baht was spent on the building where about 40 Prathom 3-4 students (Grade 3-4) students are taught. Although the concrete is reinforced with steel, it could not withstand the impact of the earthquake.