The Central Highlands province of Kon Tum has faced up to 10 earthquakes recently. Experts have worried that more such incidents would happen in the locality in the coming time.
The first earthquake was recorded in Kon Plong District on the evening of April 4 measuring 2.7 on the Richter Scale. The latest were two on April 21 also in the same district, measuring 2.6 and 2.8 on the Richter Scale.
The Earthquake and Tsunami Warning Centre reported that over the past 18 days, the province has witnessed a total 10 earthquakes. Besides Kon Plong District, Dak Ha, Ngoc Hoi and Kon Ray districts have also been hit.
Despite their small level and the remote possibility to cause damage or deaths, they have occurred with higher frequency. The Earthquake and Tsunami Warning Centre is still keeping a close eye on the earthquakes.
Associate Prof. Dr Cao Dinh Trieu, former deputy head of the Institute of Geophysics, said the areas where the earthquakes happened in Kon Tum are located on the fault system of Rao Quan-A Luoi. The system starts from Laos and stretches until the southern central province of Binh Dinh’s Quy Nhon City.
However, Dr Le Huy Minh, former director of the Earthquake and Tsunami Warning Centre, said that unlike the north-western region of Vietnam, earthquakes are not a common phenomenon in the Central Highlands region. So, such consecutive tremors in Kon Tum are a matter of concern.
According to experts, the recent earthquakes in Kon Plong would be partially due to the water storage of Thuong Kon Tum Hydropower Plant that had become operational since March 24.
Earlier in 2011, a range of earthquakes were also recorded near Song Tranh 2 Hydropower Plant in the central province of Quang Nam with the biggest being 4.7 on the Richter Scale. This was blamed for the hydropower plant’s water storage. Apart from this, the earthquake areas are situated on the Rao Quan-A Luoi fault system.
Trieu suggested sending task forces to Kon Tum for the survey and assessment of possible earthquake risks to ensure timely warnings for the public.
Source: dtinews.vn, TP