A professor from the Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University has organized an online course, “Earthquake, a Terrifying Wrath,” to monitor the powerful fault activities in Thailand, while pointing out that the clay layer of the Bangkok sedimentary basin absorbed and amplified the tremors and suggesting Cell Broadcast, a disaster alert, to reduce future calamities.
An 8.2 magnitude earthquake centered on Mandalay, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, turned one ordinary day—Friday, March 28, 2025—into an unforgettable one, especially for the residents of Bangkok. Several high-rise buildings swayed and cracked, while one building that was under construction tragically collapsed and buried many lives under the rubble.
It was the shocking event that many people said was “the first time in their lives.” It was not expected that Bangkok would feel such a strong shaking. Several people did not know what to do or how to react in time. The questions that followed included, “Will it happen again?” When will the alert come?
“This is the important lesson that gives us an idea of what an earthquake is like,” said Professor Dr. Punya Charusiri, head of the Research Unit for Earthquake and Tectonics Geology, Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University. “This is similar to the tsunami disaster; if it happens again for the second time, I believe the death toll would be less. During this recent earthquake, it was very chaotic—some people freaked out and didn’t know what to do. But if it happens again in the future, there will be fewer deaths as well, because we are now more aware.”
The recent earthquake may have alarmed many people, but from now on, we need to increase awareness, knowledge, and warning measures and handle the situation better, as this past earthquake will not be the last! “An earthquake of magnitude 8 is likely to happen again,” Prof. Dr. Punya said.
Since two years ago (2022), Prof. Dr. Punya has presented and launched the “Earthquake, Terrifying Wrath” online course on the Chula MOOC platform to allow students and the general public to apply for free admission. The course contains 12 subjects covering topics ranging from the cause of earthquakes and the definition of an active fault to the assessment of areas in Thailand that are vulnerable to earthquakes, as well as what to do prior to, during, and post-earthquakes, etc.
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