Nine more earthquakes shake Central Highland province
VOV.VN - The Earthquake and Tsunami Warning Centre under the Institute of Geophysics of Vietnam recorded nine earthquakes hitting Kon Plong district of the Central Highland province of Kon Tum on August 22.
These earthquakes measured 2.5 to 4.4 on the Richter scale at a depth of more than 8km.
Though these earthquakes posed no disaster risks, they raised concerns about safety among local residents, because quakes have happened more frequently in Kon Plong district in recent times, including four on August 21 and three on August 20.
Since the beginning of the year, about 260 earthquakes have hit Kon Plong district, which experts say were stimulated by water storage at hydroelectric dam reservoirs in this area.
According to Director of the Institute of Geophysics Dr. Nguyen Xuan Anh, Kon Tum in general and Kon Plong in particular belongs to a small fault, which see earthquakes with magnitude not exceeding 5.5.
The earthquake and tsunamis watchdog on July 29 morning recorded a 5.0 magnitude earthquake hitting Kon Plong district with its epicentre at a depth of approximately 8.5km.
Many neighbouring localities such as Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Binh Dinh, and Phu Yen felt intense shaking for a little while mild shaking was even recorded in Ho Chi Minh City.
It is predicted that earthquakes will continue to hit Kon Tum in the near future, but they are unlikely to be larger than 5.5, said the director, adding detailed studies are needed to evaluate earthquakes in that area.
