A corridor of the Diamond Riverside apartment complex in District 8 has peeling walls and bulging tiles due to earthquake aftershocks. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — The Ministry of Construction has ordered HCM City to conduct a "comprehensive safety assessment" of all apartment buildings, following the recent 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar.

Recent reports indicated over 340 apartments in Việt Nam's largest city, particularly the Diamond Riverside complex in District 8, have sustained damage, including cracks and peeling floors attributed to aftershocks.

The ministry has requested a detailed report on the situation at the District 8 complex and urged city officials to enhance preparedness for future seismic events.

Building management, residents, and local authorities must monitor the structural integrity of complexes not slated for renovation, it said.

In cases of significant damage due to natural disasters, all parties should collaborate on assessments and necessary repairs or evacuations, it added.

Buildings needing renovations must be included in future project plans, according to the ministry.

According to the 2023 Housing Law, new apartment buildings have a warranty period of 60 months, and construction companies are responsible for addressing structural issues like leaning or cracking.

Last Friday, aftershocks from the Myanmar earthquake caused noticeable tremors at the Diamond Riverside complex in HCM City, leading residents to report cracked walls and bubbling floors.

Building management immediately alerted local authorities and the HCM City Department of Construction.

The department has found over 340 apartments with wall cracks and damage in hallways and rooftop terraces across the city, raising concerns about building safety.

The department is currently gathering reports from all districts, including Thủ Đức City, about the aftershocks’ impact.

In related news, a Thai anti-corruption group has alerted authorities to irregularities in a Bangkok skyscraper’s construction that collapsed during the quake, resulting in at least 12 deaths due to substandard materials.

The earthquake hit Myanmar at 1:20pm on March 28, causing tremors felt in HCM City and Hà Nội for nearly 20 seconds in some high-rises.

Myanmar’s military reported that the death toll from the earthquake has risen to 2,719, with expectations it may exceed 3,000.

Approximately 4,521 people were injured, and 441 are missing, making it the most powerful quake to hit Myanmar in over a century. — VNS