Eight consecutive earthquakes in Kon Tum

According to the Institute of Geophysics, eight earthquakes occurred in Kon Plông district on the morning of September 22nd, the strongest measuring 4.4 magnitude, causing tremors that residents could feel.

Eight major earthquakes, ranging in magnitude from 2.7 to 4.4, occurred at depths of 8-10 km, with the strongest measuring 4.4 at 7:45 AM. Residents in nearby areas such as Kon Ray district, Kon Tum city (Kon Tum province), and Chu Pah district (Gia Lai province) felt the tremors.

Location of the earthquake in Kon Tum, morning of September 22nd. Photo: Institute of Geophysics.

According to experts, the tremors in Kon Plông were induced earthquakes, occurring in the reservoir area serving the hydroelectric power plant. When the hydroelectric power plant operates, it puts pressure on the ground, leading to landslides that generate earthquakes.

In March 2021, after the Thuong Kon Tum power plant in Kon Plong district began impounding water for electricity generation, tremors increased dramatically in the area. Statistics show that over the 117 years from 1903 to 2020, Kon Plong district recorded approximately 33 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or higher.

However, since 2021, more than 200 earthquakes have occurred here. The strongest one took place in August 2022, with a magnitude of 4.7. At that time, people in several provinces and cities hundreds of kilometers away from Kon Plông felt the shaking, and things fell to the ground.

Dak Tang village - a place where many earthquakes have occurred. Photo: Tran Hoa

Kon Tum province has installed eight monitoring stations near the Thuong Kon Tum and Dak Drinh hydropower plants to track and warn of earthquakes.

Tran Hoa

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