CHIANG RAI – At 9:37 a.m. on Monday, a 3.3-magnitude earthquake shook the area near Ban Dai Subdistrict, Mae Sai District. Because the quake was shallow, many people reported feeling the shaking in nearby districts, including Mae Chan, Mae Sai, and Mae Fah Luang.
Event details
- Date and time (Thailand): February 16, 2026, at 09:37:58
- Time (UTC): 02:37:58
- Magnitude: 3.3
- Depth: 3 km
- Epicenter coordinates: 20.304°N, 99.957°E
- Information released (Thailand): February 16, 2026, at 09:41:51
Although the magnitude was not considered severe, the depth was only 3 km. As a result, the shaking was easier to notice, even if it lasted briefly.
Areas where residents reported shaking
Based on public reports, shaking was felt in several parts of Chiang Rai Province, including:
- Chan Chawa Subdistrict, Mae Chan District (Ban Hua Fai, Village 11): about 2 km from the epicenter. Some residents said they heard a loud bang, like an explosion or a transformer, before the shaking. People in multi-story detached homes felt it clearly.
- Wiang Phang Kham Subdistrict, Mae Sai District (Chao Pho Luang Upatham School, 1-story classroom building): the movement felt like a heavy truck passing by and lasted about 1 second.
- Pong Ngam Subdistrict, Mae Sai District (Ban Tham Pla, Village 3): residents in a 1-story detached home reported feeling the shaking.
- Mae Chan Subdistrict, Mae Chan District (Chiang Saen Prachanuson building): in an office building up to 5 stories, someone on the second floor reported dizziness and noticed slight movement in bottled water.
- Mae Fah Luang District: Residents in 1-story homes reported a short period of shaking.
Current situation
So far, there have been no reports of damage to buildings or property, and no injuries have been reported. Still, relevant agencies continue to monitor the situation closely. Residents are advised to follow updates from official sources, especially in case aftershocks occur.
A 3.3-magnitude earthquake can be felt near the epicenter, and shallow depth like this often makes the shaking more noticeable. That’s why multiple areas in Chiang Rai reported feeling it, even though it was brief.
Chiang Rai, in northern Thailand, sits in a seismically active part of the Golden Triangle. Several active fault lines run through and near the province. Because of this, the area often feels small earthquakes, with occasional stronger shaking.
One of the main structures is the Mae Chan Fault. It’s an active left-lateral strike-slip fault that trends west-southwest to east-northeast. The fault stretches about 118 km and continues into Laos. It has a long history of movement, including a magnitude 6.3 earthquake in Laos in 2007 that was felt strongly in Chiang Rai and caused damage. Paleoseismic findings also suggest it can produce larger events.
Another key source of earthquake risk is the Mae Lao Fault Group. This fault system runs northeast to southwest and crosses districts such as Mae Lao, Mae Suai, and Mueang Chiang Rai. On May 5, 2014, it produced Thailand’s most damaging modern earthquake, a magnitude 6.3 event (often listed as Mw 6.1 to 6.2).
The quake damaged homes, schools, temples, and roads across Mae Lao and nearby areas. After the main shock, more than 1,000 aftershocks followed, adding to the disruption.
Besides these major faults, other nearby structures raise the overall hazard. For example, segments of the Phayao Fault Zone also play a role. As a result, Chiang Rai sees frequent low-magnitude tremors, even though large earthquakes remain less common.
Most recorded quakes in Chiang Rai stay below magnitude 4. Still, recent events show the ground is not fully quiet. On February 16, 2026, a shallow magnitude 3.3 earthquake struck in the Mae Sai district at about 3 km depth.
People reported feeling it in several areas, including Mae Fa Luang, Pong Ngam, Mae Chan, and Wiang Phang Kham. No injuries or damage were reported. The day before, on February 15, 2026, a very small magnitude 1.3 event occurred nearby, which points to ongoing tectonic stress in the region.
Recent earthquakes and fault lines in Chiang Rai:
- Mae Chan Fault: An active left-lateral strike-slip fault, about 118 to 150 km long within Thailand, tied to major past events in the geologic record (including an estimated ~M6.9 around 1,500 years ago) and the 2007 M6.3 Laos quake felt in Chiang Rai.
- Mae Lao Fault Group: A northeast to southwest-trending fault system that triggered the destructive 2014 M6.3 Mae Lao earthquake, the strongest and most damaging event in modern Thai records.
- Recent activity (2026): A magnitude 3.3 quake on February 16, 2026, in Mae Sai district (about 3 km deep), felt locally with no reported damage, after a smaller M1.3 quake on February 15.
- Regional context: Chiang Rai’s location near the Myanmar and Laos borders increases exposure to cross-border earthquakes; small tremors happen often, while major events occur less often.
- Seismic monitoring: Reports from the Thai Meteorological Department and sources like VolcanoDiscovery show mostly shallow, minor earthquakes in early 2026.
Source: Earthquake Observation Division, Thai Meteorological Department
