He also downplayed fears that the quake and aftershocks were likely to trigger more landslides on the island.
“If you consider all the factors that cause landslides, human activity and heavy rain are the major causes,” Prof Amnart said. “So there is no need to panic about the earthquake this week.”
Last October, landslides occurred at multiple locations around the island after a period of heavy rain.
The most severe damage was at the Adisak Equipment warehouse on the bypass road, which was hit by thousands of tons of earth and rocks that slid from the steep hillside behind the warehouse.
That incident initially led local authorities to consider restrictions on the use of slopes. However, once the rainy season ended, the matter of landslides was apparently put on the back burner.
The authorities are, however, preparing to launch a programme to educate local people on ways to live with natural disasters. One priority is to relieve people’s fear of earthquakes by teaching them how to react when they happen.
“Lack of the right information is the main reason that people panic,” said Prof Amnart. “Instead of being frightened, we should learn how to live with disasters.”