Earthquake of 6 magnitude strikes Thailand, some damage

BANGKOK (Reuters) - An earthquake of 6 magnitude struck northern Thailand on Monday causing some damage to buildings and roads and knocking goods off shelves in shops but there were no immediate reports of any casualties.

The quake struck 17 miles (27 km) southwest of the town of Chiang Rai, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). It was felt in the Thai capital, Bangkok, and in neighbouring Myanmar.
"There has been minor damage to buildings in Chiang Rai itself, some shops have have goods scattered about and we're seeing cracks in buildings," a Chiang Rai police officer told Reuters.
"No injuries have been reported so far but we're hearing that some provincial roads have sustained some damage with large cracks appearing," said the officer, who declined to be identified as he is not authorised to speak to the media.
The USGS initially said the quake was of 6.3 magnitude but later downgraded it. It was at the relatively shallow depth of 7.4 km (4.5 miles).
Chiang Rai, in the mountainous north of Thailand, is near the borders of both Myanmar and Laos. The epicentre was in a largely rural area of small villages, farms and forests.
(Writing by Robert Birsel; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)

Earthquake in north Thailand

A strong earthquake shook northern Thailand and Myanmar on Monday evening, smashing windows, cracking walls and roads and damaging Buddhist temples. No casualties were reported.

The airport in Chiang Rai, a northern Thai city near the epicenter of the 6.3-magnitude temblor, evacuated people from its terminal, where display signs and pieces of the ceiling fell. There was no damage to the runway or flight disruptions, airport General Manager Damrong Klongakara said.
A well-known temple in the city, the all-white Wat Rongkhun, was closed due to safety concerns after the earthquake. (AP)

 A man points to a large crack on a damaged road following a strong earthquake in Phan district of Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand, Monday, May 5, 2014. A strong earthquake shook northern Thailand and Myanmar Monday evening, and some light damage was reported. (AP Photo)

Goods at a grocery store fallen from from the shelves after an earthquake in Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand Monday, May 5, 2014. (AP Photo)

 

Workers look on from the ground after evacuating from a building following an earthquake in Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand Monday, May 5, 2014. (AP Photo/Wichai Taprieu)

 

A woman looks at damaged house following an earthquake in Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand Monday, May 5, 2014. (AP Photo)

 

Debris fallen from cracked wall of a hotel building is scattered on the ground after an earthquake hit the area in Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand Monday, May 5, 2014. (AP Photo)