Experts release quake report
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Earthquake hits Hai Phong
HAI PHONG — A magnitude 4.4 earthquake occurred at around 10am yesterday morning in northern Hai Phong City's Kien An District.
It is believed that this is the first time an earthquake has hit the city, said Associate Professor Cao Dinh Trieu, from the Institute of Geophysics, part of the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology.
According to the institute, the earthquake had a 15km seismic depth.
Associate Professor Trieu said that this was a tectonic earthquake and occurred at the cross point between the Dong Trieu – Cam Pha fault zone and Hong (Red) River fault zone.
"The Dong Trieu – Cam Pha fault zone is one stretch of a bigger fault zone beginning in China called the Lingsan – Ha Long fault zone", he said.
"Within the fault zone, small earthquakes often occur in north-eastern Quang Ninh Province's Uong Bi District", he added.
People living in the epicentre of yesterday's quake felt their furniture shaking. However, this was believed to be a small earthquake causing no damage.
Tremors from the earthquake could be felt in high buildings in Ha Noi's districts of Ba Dinh, Cau Giay, Hai Ba Trung, Hoan Kiem, and Thanh Xuan; and Quang Ninh Province. The institute continues to monitor the earthquake. — VNS
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QUANG NAM (VNS)— The maximum earthquake to expect in the Song Tranh 2 Hydro-electric power Plant area in central Quang Nam Province would be 6 on the Richter scale, a study has revealed.
The study evaluated earthquakes and proposed measures to minimise losses. It was released by the Viet Nam Association of Geophysicists under the Viet Nam Union of Science and Technology Associations yesterday.
Associated Professor Cao Dinh Trieu, of the association, said the strongest earthquake would likely happen in the zone of faults with a seismic depth of 15km.
Its strength would decrease to 5.9 on the Richter scale in the reservoir and increase to 6.1 in the central area of the dam and low section.
Three days ago, representatives from the ministries of Industry and Trade, Construction, and Science and Technology affirmed the Song Tranh 2 Hydropower plant dam was safe and earthquakes in Bac Tra My District could not exceed 5.5 on the Richter scale.
Figures from the Institute of Geophysics showed that about 52 earthquakes occurred in the area in the past year. The strongest earthquake of 4.2 on the Richter scale was on September 3.
Trieu said the geology of the area was mainly granite pieces located along the zone of faults, posing a high risk of landslides and geological catastrophe in case of earthquake.
The study was implemented in April with the participation of seven leading scientists in the fields of geology, hydro-electricity and dynamics.
Experts from Military Zone 5 have inspected the evacuation plan for people living in earthquake-affected areas near Song Tranh Hydropower Plant in central Quang Nam Province.
According to the plan, the military commanders of Bac Tra My District have developed evacuation plans to prepare for the worst scenario: the Song Tranh Dam breaking.
Thousands of households in the affected areas of Tra Doc, Tra Tan, Tra Son, Tra Giang communes and Tra My Town would be moved to the nearest high ground. At each point of evacuation, medical and search and rescue stations would also be set up.
The provincial Military Command would work with seven units of the armed forces, the steering committee of flood prevention and control and the department of health to prepare for all circumstances.
Major General Nguyen Quy Nhon, deputy commander of the Military Zone 5, stressed that preparations needed to take into account many details, such as the distance between residents' homes and evacuation sites, means of transport and the time it would take to evacuate.
Chairman of the district People's Committee Dang Phong said the district would co-operate with authorised agencies to make detailed plans for relocation or evacuation in case the dam broke.
Yesterday also saw the provincial People's Committee approve financial support to be given to seven households affected by landslides and rising water levels in the reservoir of Song Tranh Hydro-power Plant.
Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN) will support them with VND845.5 million (US$40,580). Of this, more than VND680 million ($32,640) will be used for housing and the rest for land purchase and additional construction work. — VNS