The water accumulation activities of the hydroelectric reservoir have triggered hundreds of induced earthquakes in the Kon Plong district, Kon Tum province over the past three years. However, the earthquake with a magnitude of 5.0 that occurred this afternoon (July 28) is the strongest quake recorded, causing tremors across the Central Highlands and many provinces in Central Vietnam. The Earthquake Information Center and Tsunami Warning has issued a level 2 disaster risk warning.
The earthquake struck at 11:35:10 AM (Hanoi time) on July 28 in the Kon Plong district, Kon Tum province, with a magnitude of 5.0 and a depth of approximately 8.1 km. This is the strongest earthquake ever recorded in this area.
According to Dr. Nguyen Xuan Anh, Director of the Earthquake Information Center and Tsunami Warning, the earthquake reached a moderate magnitude level. Local authorities need to assess the damage. This agency has issued a level 2 disaster risk warning due to the earthquake.
Before the 5.0 magnitude quake this afternoon, the area had recorded three consecutive earthquakes from early morning to noon. The first earthquake occurred at 3:12:14 AM with a magnitude of 3.4 in the Kon Plong district, Kon Tum province. The subsequent two earthquakes occurred at 8:35:29 AM and 11:17:46 AM with magnitudes of 3.3 and 4.1, respectively.
Currently, there are no reports of damage caused by the earthquake. However, the Central Highlands and coastal provinces in Central and Southern Vietnam felt the tremors from this earthquake.
In Da Nang, residents clearly felt the tremors from this earthquake. Many people living in apartments rushed out of their homes upon feeling the shaking. In Central Highlands provinces such as Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Dak Nong, as well as Central provinces like Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, and Khanh Hoa, residents reported experiencing tremors.
Residents of an apartment in Da Nang evacuate after feeling the tremors caused by the earthquake. (Photo: Facebook).
For over three years, Kon Plong district, Kon Tum province has been a hotspot for earthquakes in Vietnam, with hundreds of recorded quakes, significantly surpassing the number recorded in this area over the past century.
Earthquakes in Kon Plong are considered induced earthquakes by scientists from the Institute of Geophysics (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology), caused by the water accumulation process in the hydroelectric reservoir affecting the active fault system below, resulting in earthquakes occurring earlier than natural laws would suggest. Induced earthquakes in Kon Plong are expected to persist for many years to come.
Induced earthquakes also occur in cycles, with periods of intense seismic activity followed by quieter phases, closely related to the operations of the hydroelectric reservoir.
According to Dr. Nguyen Xuan Anh, Director of the Earthquake Information Center and Tsunami Warning, the earthquake monitoring system in the Kon Plong area has recently been completed. A research project on induced earthquakes in the region has been approved and implemented. This will help clarify the issues related to induced earthquakes in this area.
In Vietnam, induced earthquakes have occurred at the Hoa Binh Hydroelectric Plant, Song Tranh 2 Hydroelectric Plant, and Dak Drinh Hydroelectric Plant. Among these, the induced earthquakes at Song Tranh 2 lasted over ten years with hundreds of occurrences, causing long-term disruptions to the lives of residents in the Bac Tra My and Nam Tra My districts (Quang Nam province). Induced earthquakes can last for several years but can also persist for several decades, as seen in India.
