Just in case… even if Cambodia has almost never experienced any real earthquakes, have the real estate developers, especially high-rise building developers, taken into the account the seismic work under each building foundation? Find out here!
This video demonstrates the J Tower 3 construction team nearing the completion of foundational piles, with only three final piles remaining as of April 1, 2025.
On March 28, 2025, a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar. It caused widespread destruction and sent tremors across parts of Southeast Asia. People felt shaking in Thailand, China and Laos. Tremors also reached areas closer to Cambodia’s border with Thailand.
Cambodia, fortunately, remained largely unaffected. However, the disaster raised important questions about earthquake-resistant buildings in Cambodia. It also highlighted regional seismic risks and the preparedness of growing cities such as Phnom Penh.
These questions matter to Cambodia’s property sector. Phnom Penh’s skyline continues to grow as more high-rise projects enter the market. As a result, developers, investors and homebuyers are paying greater attention to structural safety. Foundation design and earthquake-resistant engineering are also becoming more important.
The March 28 earthquake caused extensive destruction in Myanmar. Buildings collapsed, while communities suffered significant loss of life and property.
Buildings destroyed in Mandalay, Myanmar, following the quake. Credit: Reuters.
Thailand also felt strong tremors. Videos from Bangkok showed high-rise buildings swaying and water spilling from rooftop swimming pools. An under-construction high-rise building also collapsed. The incident resulted in deaths and triggered a major rescue operation.
Teams remove rubble from a collapsed under-construction building in Bangkok, Thailand. Credit: Associated Press.
Cambodia experienced a very different outcome. The Kingdom expressed solidarity with neighboring countries affected by the disaster. However, Cambodia itself remained largely unscathed.
Movements between tectonic plates and geological faults cause most earthquakes.
Myanmar lies within a highly active seismic region. Several major tectonic systems influence the country. Its location and active faults make significant earthquakes much more likely than in Cambodia.
Cambodia lies farther from the region’s most active tectonic boundaries. It also sits farther from major earthquake zones. Historically, Cambodia has experienced fewer and less severe earthquakes than several neighboring countries.
This geological position gives Cambodia a degree of natural protection. However, low seismic risk does not mean zero risk. This distinction matters as cities such as Phnom Penh continue to develop vertically.
The infographic above shows earthquakes at or above magnitude 4.0 across Southeast Asia between 1975 and 2025. Although Cambodia sits within a wider region of seismic activity, it has not experienced the same concentration of major earthquakes as several neighboring countries. Credit: ScienceKonek.
Tanichu Assetment has conducted extensive ground investigations for its high-rise projects in Phnom Penh.
The company previously developed the 16-storey J City condominium. It also developed the J Tower 1 and J Tower 2 condominiums.
During investigations in Phnom Penh’s BKK1 district, boring tests identified layers of alluvial deposits. These deposits extended approximately 30 metres below ground level. Engineers then encountered stronger geological layers.
Foundation depths vary according to each project’s design. Engineers must consider building loads, ground conditions and other structural requirements.
Tanichu Assetment drilled piles approximately 36 metres deep for J City and J Tower 1. For J Tower 2, the company drilled piles to approximately 47 metres.
For J Tower 3, the developer conducted several pile tests during the investigation and design process. These tests reached approximately 80 metres, 100 metres and 120 metres.
According to the developer, the final foundation design uses piles approximately 67 metres deep. Detailed investigations identified a strong geological bearing layer at the required depth.
By April 1, 2025, the developer had driven nearly 140 foundation piles for J Tower 3. Only three piles remained before the completion of this foundation stage.
Cambodia has relatively low seismic exposure. However, the Myanmar earthquake shows why disaster preparedness should remain part of modern urban development.
Scientists cannot predict earthquakes with absolute certainty. Seismic waves can also travel significant distances from their source. The Myanmar earthquake demonstrated this effect across several Southeast Asian countries.
Cambodia’s rapidly developing cities should therefore continue to consider earthquake preparedness. Both the public and private sectors have a role to play.
Urban planners and developers can incorporate greater structural resilience into buildings. Meanwhile, public education can teach communities how to respond during emergencies.
Preparedness measures can include evacuation plans and emergency drills. Residents should also identify safe locations inside buildings and maintain basic emergency supplies.
For property developers, however, preparation starts much earlier. Geological investigation, structural engineering and foundation design all play important roles.
Strong construction and engineering standards can help reduce earthquake-related risks.
Modern high-rise developments need to account for lateral forces from earthquakes and strong winds. Engineers should design structural systems and foundations for the specific building and site. They must also consider height, ground conditions and structural loads.
Stronger standards can protect residents and urban infrastructure. They can also reduce potential damage if significant seismic activity affects Cambodia in the future.
Better seismic monitoring could strengthen Cambodia’s disaster preparedness.
Monitoring equipment can help authorities identify seismic events more quickly. It can also help experts assess potential risks.
Where technically possible, early-warning systems may provide valuable time before strong shaking reaches an area. Even a short warning can allow people and critical infrastructure to take protective action.
However, technology should only form one part of a wider disaster-management strategy.
Public awareness also plays an important role in earthquake safety.
Residents should understand basic safety procedures and evacuation routes. They should also know their building’s emergency communication plan.
Building managers can conduct regular emergency drills. They can also clearly identify exits, stairwells and assembly areas.
Emergency responders need appropriate equipment and training. This preparation can help them react more quickly during structural emergencies.
Together, engineering, monitoring and public preparedness can reduce the potential impact of future natural disasters.
J Tower 3 is one Phnom Penh high-rise that incorporates advanced structural engineering. Japanese developer Tanichu Assetment Co., Ltd. is developing the project.
Japan is one of the world’s most seismically active countries. As a result, its construction industry has developed extensive expertise in earthquake-resistant building design.
Tanichu Assetment has brought engineering knowledge and international construction techniques to its projects in Cambodia. Its approach draws on practices used in countries such as Japan and the United States.
For J Tower 3, the developer has incorporated systems that improve structural performance. These systems address both seismic movement and strong winds.
According to the developer, several engineering features contribute to J Tower 3’s structural resilience.
One important feature is the building’s vibration-isolation system.
High-rise buildings experience lateral movement from earthquakes and strong winds. Therefore, engineers must consider how a building responds to these forces.
Modern structural engineering can help control and reduce their effects. Engineers achieve this through carefully designed structural systems.
J Tower 3 uses a vibration-control approach to improve its response to movement. The system addresses forces from both extreme winds and seismic activity.
J Tower 3 also uses SRC, or steel-reinforced concrete, within its structural system.
SRC combines structural steel with reinforced concrete. Together, these materials provide high levels of strength and rigidity.
This system can improve a high-rise building’s ability to resist vertical and lateral loads. These characteristics become particularly important for a tower of J Tower 3’s scale.
The structure must manage several forces at once. These include its own weight, strong winds and potential seismic movement.
Structural safety also begins underground.
Tanichu Assetment conducted extensive pile testing for J Tower 3. These tests helped engineers determine appropriate foundation depths. They also helped identify strong bearing layers beneath Phnom Penh.
According to the developer, the project uses foundation piles approximately 67 metres deep. Detailed ground investigations identified a strong geological layer at this depth.
The deep foundation transfers the tower’s enormous structural load into stable ground. It also contributes to the building’s overall structural performance.
The Myanmar earthquake offers an important lesson for Cambodia. Structural safety should remain a priority even in countries with relatively low earthquake risk.
This issue will become more important as Cambodia’s property market develops. High-rise condominiums, offices and mixed-use projects are becoming larger and more complex.
Homebuyers and investors should therefore look beyond location and facilities. Investment returns should not be the only consideration either.
Buyers can also examine a developer’s experience and engineering consultants. Construction methods, foundation design and quality-control processes deserve attention as well. Structural standards can provide another useful measure of development quality.
Advanced engineering may provide greater confidence for residents and investors. This will become increasingly relevant as Phnom Penh continues to develop.
Cambodia’s geographical position provides some natural protection from major seismic activity. Several other parts of Southeast Asia face much greater exposure.
However, the earthquakes in Myanmar and their effects in Thailand show why preparedness still matters.
As Phnom Penh develops into a modern high-rise city, earthquake-resistant buildings in Cambodia deserve greater attention. Structural safety should form part of the wider discussion about construction quality and urban resilience. It can also influence long-term property value and buyer confidence.
Developments such as J Tower 3 show how high-rise projects can incorporate advanced engineering. The project combines geological investigation, deep foundations and steel-reinforced concrete. Its design also includes vibration-control engineering.
Dr. Sok Ramsey, Structural Designer at the J Tower 3 project, explained the engineering approach:
“The structural system and lateral resisting system of the J Tower 3 building was designed with strong wind load resistance up to 170 kilometers per hour (as per Wind Tunnel Testing) and a performance-based Seismic Design capable of withstanding a Magnitude 6.0 earthquake.”
He also highlighted why the engineering team considered seismic forces despite Cambodia’s relatively low risk:
“Even though Cambodia is not located in an earthquake prone zone by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the J Tower 3 project’s structural engineering team has still taken Seismic load into account for structural analysis and design to prevent any building damage or collapse in the case that an earthquake occurs in the vicinity in the future.”
Cambodia may not face the same seismic risk as Myanmar. Nevertheless, stronger engineering can provide another layer of protection for modern cities.
For developers, the lesson is clear: resilience should begin at the design stage. For buyers and investors, understanding how a building was engineered can also support better property decisions.
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