Map showing the epicenter of the 2.9 magnitude earthquake at 4:57 AM on March 9th - Photo: Institute of Earth Sciences
At noon on March 9th, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Anh, Director of the Institute of Earth Sciences, announced that an earthquake had just occurred in the Mang But commune area.
Accordingly, at 11:35 AM on March 9th, a 3.9 magnitude earthquake occurred in the Mang But commune area, with a focal depth of approximately 8.1 km.
The Institute of Earth Sciences assessed this earthquake as not posing a natural disaster risk (level 0).
The Earthquake Information and Tsunami Warning Center - Institute of Earth Sciences is currently continuing to monitor these earthquakes.
Earlier this morning, at 4:57 a.m., a 2.9 magnitude earthquake was also recorded in the Mang But commune area.
On March 8th, three earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 2.8 to 3 occurred in Mang But commune.
These earthquakes did not pose a significant natural disaster risk.
Mr. Xuan Anh stated that the area of the former Kon Tum province (now Quang Ngai ) used to have relatively stable geological activity compared to many other areas nationwide, with few recorded earthquakes.
Archived data from the Institute of Earth Sciences shows that from 1903 to 2020, Kon Tum experienced only over 30 earthquakes, the largest measuring 3.9 magnitude.
However, from April 2021 to the present, hundreds of triggered earthquakes have occurred in Kon Tum, especially in the former Kon Plông district, including some earthquakes that caused widespread tremors.
The largest earthquake was the one on the afternoon of July 28, 2024, with a magnitude of 5, followed by a 4.9 magnitude earthquake on the morning of October 6, 2025.
The recent earthquakes in the former Kon Tum region were still induced earthquakes, caused by the water impoundment process of the hydroelectric reservoir affecting the active fault system beneath, resulting in earthquakes occurring earlier than the natural pattern.
Induced earthquakes also occur cyclically, with periods of intense activity and periods of quieter activity, closely related to the water storage operation of hydroelectric reservoirs.
According to Mr. Xuan Anh, earthquakes in the former Kon Tum area are predicted to continue in the near future, but are unlikely to exceed 5.5 magnitude.
In Vietnam, earthquakes with a magnitude of 3-3.9 are considered weak earthquakes.
When strong earthquakes of magnitude 3-3.9 occur, some people feel them, but damage is rare. Objects in the house may be noticed shaking.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dong-dat-manh-3-9-do-o-quang-ngai-20260309121655919.htm
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