Most Thais don’t trust government office buildings after quake: Nida Poll

Most Thais lack trust in government buildings’ safety after the Myanmar quake, with many fearing structural risks, poor warnings, and future tremors.

Most Thais lack confidence in the safety of government office buildings following the March 28 Myanmar earthquake, which caused the collapse of a new State Audit Office (SAO) building in Bangkok, according to a new opinion survey.

The survey was conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida Poll) among 1,310 respondents nationwide between 1 and 3 April. The results were released on Sunday.

Public Concerns Following Earthquake

Titled “Post-Aftershock”, the survey was conducted in the wake of the collapse of the SAO office building, which was under construction in Chatuchak district. The building reportedly collapsed when seismic waves from the Myanmar earthquake were amplified by Bangkok’s basin geological conditions.

Public Trust in Building Types

Respondents were asked about their trust in the structural safety of various types of buildings:

Government Office Buildings


48.93%: Rather not trust
30.84%: Completely do not trust
17.33%: Quite trust
2.52%: Very confident
0.38%: No comment
Private Office Buildings


49.62%: Quite trust
32.14%: Rather not trust
10.08%: Completely do not trust
7.63%: Very confident
0.53%: No comment


Shopping Malls


47.25%: Rather trust
30.15%: Rather not trust
12.60%: Very confident
9.47%: Completely do not trust
0.53%: No comment


Hotels


42.75%: Rather trust
36.18%: Rather not trust
10.61%: Completely do not trust
9.77%: Very confident
0.69%: No comment




Top Public Concerns After the Earthquake

When asked about their concerns following the incident (multiple answers allowed), respondents said:


68.09%: Worried about the structural safety of buildings
59.47%: Concerned about the effectiveness of the state’s warning system
43.97%: Fearful of another severe earthquake
33.51%: Worried about traffic and transportation during a future quake
33.21%: Unsure how to prepare for future earthquakes
29.01%: Worried about economic impact
22.98%: Concerned whether those responsible for the collapsed building will be held accountable
22.82%: Experiencing panic or mass anxiety over future quakes

(2025/04/06-00:00)