THERE was chaos at Police Hospital this morning (March 31) with members of the public and patients running out of a building while medical personnel moved other patients to safety amid fear that it was going to collapse but this turned out to be a misunderstanding, Amarin TV said.
Several people were heard shouting, “Is the building going to collapse?” as medical personnel carried patients out on stretchers to the adjoining building while other patients were pushed out to the open area on wheelchairs with IV drip attached.
However later at 11.10 a.m. Pol. Lt. Col. Samart Muangsiri, deputy chief physician of this hospital, announced over a loudspeaker that this is a misunderstanding and not to panic with this building not damaged and has been inspected and verified by experts.
A mix-up occurred after images of Ratchaburi Direkrit Building or Government Complex Building A tilting spread on social media but this was not related to Police Hospital, he added.
In Samut Prakan, a 28-storey building being built in the Phraekasa area did shake for unknown reasons this morning leading to around 200 workers being told to leave immediately.
It is as yet uncertain when the workers will return to continue building this highrise as the stability of the structure has to be checked and verified first.
Meanwhile Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt and Deputy Governor Wisanu Traiphumpol urged the public not to worry too much as more major earthquakes are unlikely with building structures being strong.
This followed evacuation from many buildings this morning amid panic that they were shaking.
However Chadchart pointed out that while there are still aftershocks these are very small and have very little effect on Thailand. Moreover looking at scientific figures there is only one in a hundred chance of buildings shaking like they did during Friday’s massive quake.
He also pointed out that all buildings sway when the wind is strong or by other force.
Even at City Hall 2 in Din Daeng, people were evacuated from Thani Nopparat Building this morning amid worry over the structure shaking.
Those who find cracks in buildings can call the hotline 1555 to ask for an inspection but these must be new cracks not old ones.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra visited the site where the 30-storey State Audit Building collapsed on Friday to encourage rescue workers.
Teams of officials from various agencies, including international organisations, are urgently searching for missing persons with thermal drones still indicating multiple vital signs.
CAPTIONS:
Top, below and Front Page:People quickly moved out of a Police Hospital building amid misunderstanding that it was going to collapse.
First insert: Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, left, and Deputy Governor Wisanu Traiphumpol.
Seoond insert: Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra at the collapsed building site. Photos: Amarin TV
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