A 3.9-magnitude earthquake hit the northwestern province of Dien Bien, about 295 km west of Hanoi, at 3:14am on January 8. (Photo: National Geographic World Map/VNA)Dien Bien (VNA) – A 3.9-magnitude earthquakehit the northwestern province of Dien Bien, about 295 km west of Hanoi, at3:14am on January 8.
The earthquake’s centre was at a depth of 10km in DienBien Dong district, with shocks lasting about three seconds, said Nguyen ThaiSon, head of the Dien Bien Phu City’s Seismic Monitoring Station.
People living in the centre of Dien Bien Phu City saidthey clearly felt tremors and many woke up panicked, running out of housesas the earthquake shook the city in early morning. But it caused no damage onhouses or buildings, he noted.
It is the first earthquake recorded in Dien Bien thisyear. Last year, the province was struck by seven earthquakes in differentareas in districts of Dien Bien, Muong Cha, Dien Bien Dong, Tuan Giao and TuaChau and Muong Lay township with the magnitude ranging from 2.1 to 3.9 on theRichter scale.
According to Son, quakes are normal in the mountainousprovince of Dien Bien as it is situated on the fault systems of Dien Bien – LaiChau and Song Ma – Son La.-VNA
VNA
