According to the director of the Earth Physics Institute, the earthquake in My Duc that caused tremors in central Hanoi this morning is due to its location within the Red River – Lo River – Chay River fault zone.
In an interview with Tuổi Trẻ Online on the afternoon of March 25 regarding the cause of the 4-magnitude earthquake in My Duc District (Hanoi), Dr. Nguyen Xuan Anh, the director of the Earth Physics Institute, stated that the area where the earthquake occurred is located within the Red River – Lo River – Chay River fault zone. When these faults accumulate enough energy, earthquakes occur.
Rocks rolling down from the mountain into a house in Cao Duong Commune, Luong Son District, Hoa Binh due to the earthquake on the morning of March 25 in My Duc – (Photo: H.KHOI).
Dr. Xuan Anh also mentioned that the Red River – Lo River – Chay River fault zone has experienced earthquakes in the past. In Hanoi, an 8-magnitude earthquake occurred in the 12th century, causing the stone stele of Bao Thien Pagoda to break in half.
“The earthquake patterns due to faults in the Red River – Lo River – Chay River fault zone indicate that strong earthquakes typically occur every few hundred years, or every seven hundred years.” – Dr. Nguyen Xuan Anh stated.
He also reported that the earthquake this morning in My Duc District has a natural disaster risk level of 0. However, the unit is continuing to monitor this earthquake.
From the mentioned earthquake, Dr. Xuan Anh believes there is a need to research the segments of the Red River fault to assess earthquake hazards in more detail; the Hanoi area should conduct an earthquake risk assessment.
Dr. Xuan Anh also proposed establishing monitoring equipment in high-rise buildings in the city to quantitatively assess the level of shaking caused by earthquakes.
Additionally, a detailed earthquake assessment map for Hanoi is needed, which should update new earthquakes, thereby developing scenarios for assessing earthquake hazards in urban districts to serve the seismic resistance of construction works.
Camera footage capturing citizens experiencing shaking due to the earthquake in Hanoi.
As reported by Tuổi Trẻ Online, at 8:05 AM on March 25, a 4-magnitude earthquake occurred in My Duc District, Hanoi, with an epicenter depth of approximately 16 km.
At the epicenter of the earthquake, Mr. Phan Duc Trong – Secretary of the Party Committee of Bot Xuyen Commune, My Duc District – noted that the shaking lasted about 5 seconds.
“We had just finished raising the flag when we felt the shaking. Some office staff noticed the flower vases and plants on their desks shaking. A quick check revealed no damages,” Mr. Trong shared with Tuổi Trẻ Online.
“I was having breakfast when I felt dizzy; the roof was vibrating, and the walls shook for about 4-5 seconds,” shared Ms. Phuong Thao (from Bot Xuyen Commune).
In several high-rise buildings in Thanh Xuan, Ha Dong, Nam Tu Liem districts, residents also felt noticeable shaking.
Cao Duong Commune (Luong Son District, Hoa Binh Province) was also affected by this earthquake.
The local government of Cao Duong reported that the earthquake caused a rock approximately 2 meters long and wide to fall from the mountain, crashing into a house within the commune.
The large rock caused the kitchen wall and animal shelter to collapse, fortunately, there were no casualties.
In Vietnam, earthquakes ranging from 4 to 4.9 in magnitude are classified as mild earthquakes. When an earthquake occurs, household items shake and create noise. Many people can perceive the earthquake. Generally, they do not cause significant damage or result in minor damages.
