The bureau initially said the tremor that occurred in Tambon Bangnamjued in the district at 6.24pm was not a quake but probably due to land subsidence.

However the office issued confirmed on its website yesterday morning that it had analysed more information from the Meteorological Department and Department of Mineral Resources and concluded that the area had been hit by a minor quake.

Seismologist Paiboon Nuannin told reporters that the initial statement was based on the seismological office in the nearby province of Surat Thani not detecting any quake. But after it collected information from the other departments, the statement was revised.

The quake measured 2.9 on the Richter scale and was only about one kilometre deep. “Judging from the details, I assume that the earthquake is from movement of the Ranong fault line,” he said.

The quake took place at 6.24pm, sending local people running out of their houses in panic.

Villagers said that quake lasted about 15 seconds. Kittipop Roddon, Lang Suan district chief, said four houses suffered from cracks and minor damage due to the impact of the tremors.

There are 248 families in the villages.

Rattanawadi Srin-in, 18, said that she felt her house shaking and thought that an 18-wheel truck was running past. When she found that it was an earthquake, she ran out of her house.

Weerasak Rodwijit, 44, said he also felt the tremor and his child said it was an earthquake, so he and his family members ran out of the house. He found neighbours outside their houses too.

When he returned to his house, he discovered cracks.