Thailand’s earthquake response

On the afternoon of Friday 28th March, a massive level 7.7 Earthquake struck in central Myanmar, causing widespread tremors and severe shaking across Thailand. At the same time, an extensive 3-day multi-scenario training and drill for Thailand’s Medical Emergency Response Teams (MERTs), organized in Thailand’s Prachinburi Province with the support of the Dept Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand was moving towards its conclusion.

The MERT training was rapidly concluded, and participants rushed back to Bangkok, with reports on the collapse of a 30-story building under construction in Bangkok’s Chatuchak District bringing an added sense of urgency.  The same evening, an on-site Incident Command Post was established in Chatuchak, supported by national Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) experts and Military and Civilian MERTs, to both coordinate rescue operations and stand by for the provision of urgent medical care.

As, the situation continues to evolve in both Thailand and Myanmar, including reports of additional deaths, injuries, and of people who are unaccounted for, in Thailand, significant mental health support has also been provided to affected communities through dedicated Mental Health Crisis Assessment and Treatment (MCAT) Teams.

Thailand’s experience in responding to such natural disasters goes back many years. In 2019, building on the success of the national network of MERTs, together with experience obtained through the ASEAN Regional Capacity on Disaster Health Management (ARCH) Project, Thailand successfully applied for accreditation of a “type1 fixed Emergency Medical Team” under the global EMT initiative, which is overseen by WHO. In early 2025, building further on its experience, Thailand informed WHO of its intention to upgrade their capacities and seek international accreditation in 2026 of a higher level ”type 2 EMT”. The MERT training and drill organized in Prachinburi from 26-28 March was part of the country’s preparation towards this EMT accreditation because the trained MERT nurses, doctors and logisticians will join a pool of skilled professionals available for national and international deployment either bilaterally or through the global EMT initiative. 

Dr Narumol Sawanpanyalert, event medical commander briefs Dr Somsak Thepsutin, Minister of Public Health (MOPH) on the medical response for the building collapse. Dr Narumol, a senior expert with the Dept Medical Services, MOPH was leading the MERT training in Prachinburi and is the national focal point for the WHO EMT initiative.