Seismologist analyzes Nepal landslide to improve Thai warning systems

Thai seismologist Dr. Paiboon Nuan-nil has analyzed the catastrophic landslide in Nepal to provide lessons for Thailand’s disaster preparedness. The disaster, initially assessed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as a 4.4 magnitude earthquake, was actually triggered by an ice avalanche. This event caused massive amounts of ice, soil, and rock to block river paths, leading to rapid water level rises. As the ice melted, a high-speed torrent of mud and water struck tourist villages and communities along riverbanks.

While current reports indicate 167 deaths and 400–500 missing persons, Dr. Paiboon warns that the final death toll could reach the thousands. He emphasizes the need for Thailand to reform its warning systems to better protect high-risk areas from landslides and floods, specifically citing the economic importance of Hat Yai in Songkhla province and other vulnerable regions prone to seasonal natural disasters.