Earthquake in Dien Bien does not affect hydropower

The first earthquake occurred at 11:17:21 ( Hanoi time) with a magnitude of 5.0 on the Richter scale, the epicenter was located at 21.747 degrees North latitude and 103.129 degrees East longitude, with a depth of about 10km. The disaster risk level of the first earthquake was assessed as level 2. People in Muong Cha district and neighboring areas clearly felt the shaking.

The second earthquake occurred at 14:16:04 on the same day, with a magnitude of 4.0 on the Richter scale. The epicenter was almost the same as the first earthquake, located at 21.735 degrees North latitude and 103.133 degrees East longitude, with a depth of about 10km. However, the disaster risk level of this earthquake was only assessed as level 0.

The epicenter of the second match is the same location as the first match.

On the same afternoon, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention ( Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ) informed that as soon as the earthquake occurred, the disaster prevention team called to get information from the Office of the Dien Bien Provincial Command and the technical staff of the Son La and Lai Chau hydropower companies.

According to confirmation, the earthquake caused slight shaking in Dien Bien province, but no damage was recorded. "There were no abnormalities recorded at Lai Chau Hydropower Plant and no impact on the project," said a representative of the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention.

The Earthquake Information and Tsunami Warning Center continues to monitor seismic developments in this area to promptly notify if aftershocks occur or have widespread impacts.

Dien Bien is a locality in the Northwest region, an area that regularly records seismic activity due to its location on deep fault zones. In the past, there have been strong earthquakes such as the one in 1935 with a magnitude of 6.9 on the Richter scale and the one in 1983 with a magnitude of 6.7 on the Richter scale, causing significant damage.

Experts warn that although Vietnam is not located in the Pacific Ring of Fire (an area where earthquakes and volcanoes frequently occur), the Northwest region still has the potential risk of major earthquakes.

PHUC VAN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/dong-dat-tai-dien-bien-khong-anh-huong-thuy-dien-post795536.html