According to the Earthquake Information and Tsunami Warning Center under the Institute of Geophysics, the quakes measured between 2.6 and 4.9 in magnitude, with focal depths of about 8 kilometres.
The strongest tremor, measuring 4.9, occurred at around 1.28 am with a level-1 natural disaster risk. The quake was felt not only in Quang Ngai but also in nearby areas, including Danang City and Gia Lai Province.
Pham Xuan Quang, chairman of Mang Ri Commune, said residents near the epicenter reported shaking furniture early in the morning, but no damage was recorded.
Pham Thi Hien, a resident of Gia Lai’s Thong Nhat Ward, said her family was awakened by the tremors lasting about 10 seconds, which caused several household items to fall and break.
Since 2021, the area has recorded more than 1,000 earthquakes ranging from magnitude 3.0 to 5.0, some causing widespread tremors. The strongest occurred at noon on July 28, 2024, with a magnitude of 5.0.
In the past month alone, dozens of minor earthquakes have hit the region, including four on September 29.
Experts attribute the phenomenon to “reservoir-induced seismicity,” linked to hydropower operations. When reservoirs fill and increase pressure on the ground, stress adjustments can trigger earthquakes. The frequency of tremors rose significantly in March 2021 after the Thuong Kon Tum Hydropower Plant in Kon Plong began storing water for electricity generation.
