Quang Nam provincial authorities have asked other agencies to help with an earthquake forecast for the region around Song Tranh 2 Hydropower Plant, which has experienced repeated quakes recently.
 |
| Earthquake readiness exercises |
On July 27, authorities in Quang Nam Province said they had sent official requests to the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, the Institute of Geophysics and Vietnam Electricity (EVN).
In the documents, they asked these agencies to carry out research to make an assessment of the hazards posed to the area by earthquakes before proposing any solutions to the prime minister.
The municipal authorities also said they would make public information about the hydropower plant and the earthquakes that have affected it. Since May, there has been a series of quakes near Song Tranh 2 Hydropower Plant in Bac Tra My District.
About 10 occurred in June and early July. The strongest was on July 8, measuring 3.6 on the richter scale, and the latest, on July 17, was 2.5 in magnitude.
It is said that water levels at the plant's reservoir have been low, however the frequency of the earthquakes is not diminishing, which worries those living in Bac Tra My District.
In 2012, a number of discussions were held concerning the earthquake problem at Song Tranh 2 Hydropower Plant. According to experts, Song Tranh 2 was left vulnerable to damage from earthquakes as a result of an ill-conceived water storage system. Last year, municipal authorities held earthquake readiness exercises for all residents.