On the morning of July 7, four consecutive earthquakes occurred in Kon Tum Province in the Central Highlands region. The strongest earthquake had a magnitude of 4.2, which could cause light tremors on the surface. Earthquake experts from the Institute of Geophysics assessed these events as induced earthquakes, resulting from water accumulation in hydropower reservoirs.
According to Dr. Nguyen Xuan Anh, Director of the Earthquake Information and Tsunami Warning Center, four consecutive earthquakes occurred in Kon Plong District, Kon Tum Province just this morning (July 7).
The first earthquake had a magnitude of 3.9 and occurred at 9:31:31 AM (Hanoi time) at coordinates 14.783 N – 108.331 E, with a depth of 8.1 km.
The second earthquake followed shortly after at 9:32:10 AM with a magnitude of 4.0.
The third earthquake struck at 9:37:18 AM, also at a depth of 8.1 km, with a magnitude of 3.5.
The fourth earthquake occurred at 9:48:02 AM this morning at a depth of 8.1 km with a magnitude of 4.2.
According to earthquake specialists, the 4.2 magnitude earthquake could be distinctly felt in the surrounding areas where it occurred.
Epicenter of the 4.2 magnitude earthquake on the morning of July 7. (Source: Earthquake Information and Tsunami Warning Center).
After a relatively quiet period, consecutive earthquakes have occurred in Kon Plong District, Kon Tum in recent days. Prior to the four earthquakes this morning, the area recorded eight earthquakes over the past week, with four of them occurring on June 27, but at lower magnitudes.
Kon Tum has been a seismic hotspot in Vietnam for the past two years, with hundreds of earthquakes recorded, the strongest of which had a magnitude of 4.7, causing tremors across a wide area, including Da Nang and several provinces in the South Central Coast.
The earthquakes in Kon Plong District, Kon Tum, are considered by experts from the Institute of Geophysics to be induced earthquakes, resulting from the filling of hydropower reservoirs, which affects the fault systems below, causing earthquakes to occur earlier than would be expected naturally.
In Vietnam, induced earthquakes have occurred at Hoa Binh Hydropower, Song Tranh 2 Hydropower, and Dak Drinh Hydropower. Notably, induced earthquakes at Song Tranh 2 have persisted for over ten years, with hundreds of incidents that have disrupted the lives of residents in the two districts of Bac Tra My and Nam Tra My (Quang Nam Province) for an extended period. Induced earthquakes can last for several years but can also extend for several decades, as seen in India.
The earthquakes in Kon Plong are projected to continue for many years to come. However, scientists believe that the maximum earthquake magnitude in this area is unlikely to exceed 5.0.
Induced earthquakes also occur in cycles, with periods of frequent seismic activity followed by quieter times, closely related to the water management processes of hydropower reservoirs.
