Quake in north Thailand kills 1, injures 20

At least one person was killed and 20 others injured in a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that occurred in Northern Thailand's Chiang Rai province on Monday evening, local media reported Tuesday. As of 7 am local time Tuesday, at least 109 aftershocks had been detected, the magnitudes of which ranged from slightly below 3.0 to 5.2 on the Richter scale, the National Disaster Warning Centre was quoted by Bangkok Post as saying. The quake and aftershocks reportedly killed an 83-year-old woman in Chiang Rai and injured 20 others. The US Geological Survey initially reported the magnitude of the quake was 6.0, but the Thai Meteorological Department and National Disaster Warning Centre (NDWC) finally confirmed it was a 6.3-magnitude quake that jolted Phan district in Chiang Rai at 6:08 pm local time Monday. Tremor was also felt in nearby provinces of Chiang Mai, Phrae, Phayao and Lampang, as well as in the capital Bangkok. Damage of scores of buildings and roads has been reported. Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has instructed relevant agencies to provide assistance to those affected.