Vietnam must better prepare for earthquakes, a conference in Hanoi heard on March 29.
According to scientists at the event organised by the Institute ofGeophysics, the country could be severely affected by earthquakes andtsunamis.
Geophysics Institute associate professor CaoDinh Trieu, who is second vice president of the Asian SeismologicalCommittee, said a 5.3 magnitude earthquake on the Vietnam-Laos border in2001 damaged 98 percent of offices and schools and injured two peoplein Dien Bien city.
"The earthquake was average in terms ofmagnitude and occurred 10km away from Dien Bien but its devastation washuge," he said.
Earthquakes of similar size in countries such as Japan or Indonesia by contrast had a nominal effect, he said.
The scientist blamed low quality building work in Vietnam and inadequate public awareness.
Professor Bui Cong Que, Director of the Geophysics Institute shared the opinion.
"Raising public awareness and issuing stricter earthquake andtsunami-proof construction regulations is an urgent task," he said.
Deputy Director of Earthquake and Tsunami Warning Centre Nguyen HongPhuong also said readiness is the most important factor as no country inthe world so far could forecast exactly when an earthquake would occur.
Important lessons had been learned internationally. Themagnitude 8.8 Chilean earthquake last year was much stronger than theone that hit Haiti, but the number of casualties and damage was farless. Experts also said Japan's preparedness had saved a lot of lives.
A recent report released by the United Nations shows Vietnam is muchless vulnerable to earthquakes than other countries in the region as itis not located on the edge of any tectonic plate.
But inthe northern region, fault systems such as the Red River, the Ma Riverand the Lai Chau-Dien Bien area could have lengths of several hundredkilometres and slip rates in the range of 0.5-2mm a year, whichpotentially generate earthquakes from 5.7 to 7 magnitude.
Associate professor Trieu said earthquakes in Vietnam usually hadepicentres close to the surface, resulting in higher intensity shakingat ground level.
Deputy Director of the GeophysicsInstitute Le Huy Minh said the geological foundation of many places inVietnam was quite weak, which would add to the shaking produced byearthquakes.
Trieu said strong earthquakes had been recorded by seismographs in Vietnam since 1924.
The most recent magnitude 6.8 and 6.7 earthquakes had occurred in DienBien Phu and Tuan Giao, both in the northern province of Dien Bien, in1935 and 1986.
The quakes killed and injured dozens of people, destroyed houses and caused cracks of up to 20km long on the ground.
Two earthquakes with magnitude 5.6-6.0, 13 with magnitude 5.1-5.5 andmore than 100 others with magnitude 4.6-5.0 have also occurred inVietnam in the last 90 years.
Another 108 strongearthquakes have been recorded in the country since 114AD with up to 18recorded in Hanoi, according to Trieu.
The scientist saidthere were signs of seismic quietness, or a temporary quiet period aftera strong seismic activation span, in the capital city.
"Earthquakes in Hanoi historically were not weak at all but over aprolonged period, not a single sign of seismic activity has beenrecorded. It's worrying!" he said.
The signs of an activeperiod after a seismic pause in the southern centre and the south ofVietnam with more and more frequent earthquakes of over magnitude 3.0since 2000 also needed attention, said Trieu.
Meanwhile,scientists said the central coast from Quang Tri Province to Ninh ThuanProvince could potentially be the most affected by tsunamis although theprobability of a tsunami in Vietnam was low.
In case ofan 8.6 magnitude earthquake at Manila Trench in the East Sea, west ofthe Philippines, this area could suffer tsunamis of 8-10m after abouttwo hours.
If a 9 magnitude earthquake occured in thezone, central Nha Trang City will be 6-7m under the water and more than19,000 people may be killed, according to the latest research conductedby the Geophysics Institute.
Professor Que said two otherlikely sources of earthquakes that could trigger tsunamis reaching theVietnamese coast included faults in the northern area of the East Seaand along the central coast.
"Therefore, the possibilityof earthquakes and tsunamis must be taken into account before erectingany plants and buildings along the coast," he said. /.
According to scientists at the event organised by the Institute ofGeophysics, the country could be severely affected by earthquakes andtsunamis.
Geophysics Institute associate professor CaoDinh Trieu, who is second vice president of the Asian SeismologicalCommittee, said a 5.3 magnitude earthquake on the Vietnam-Laos border in2001 damaged 98 percent of offices and schools and injured two peoplein Dien Bien city.
"The earthquake was average in terms ofmagnitude and occurred 10km away from Dien Bien but its devastation washuge," he said.
Earthquakes of similar size in countries such as Japan or Indonesia by contrast had a nominal effect, he said.
The scientist blamed low quality building work in Vietnam and inadequate public awareness.
Professor Bui Cong Que, Director of the Geophysics Institute shared the opinion.
"Raising public awareness and issuing stricter earthquake andtsunami-proof construction regulations is an urgent task," he said.
Deputy Director of Earthquake and Tsunami Warning Centre Nguyen HongPhuong also said readiness is the most important factor as no country inthe world so far could forecast exactly when an earthquake would occur.
Important lessons had been learned internationally. Themagnitude 8.8 Chilean earthquake last year was much stronger than theone that hit Haiti, but the number of casualties and damage was farless. Experts also said Japan's preparedness had saved a lot of lives.
A recent report released by the United Nations shows Vietnam is muchless vulnerable to earthquakes than other countries in the region as itis not located on the edge of any tectonic plate.
But inthe northern region, fault systems such as the Red River, the Ma Riverand the Lai Chau-Dien Bien area could have lengths of several hundredkilometres and slip rates in the range of 0.5-2mm a year, whichpotentially generate earthquakes from 5.7 to 7 magnitude.
Associate professor Trieu said earthquakes in Vietnam usually hadepicentres close to the surface, resulting in higher intensity shakingat ground level.
Deputy Director of the GeophysicsInstitute Le Huy Minh said the geological foundation of many places inVietnam was quite weak, which would add to the shaking produced byearthquakes.
Trieu said strong earthquakes had been recorded by seismographs in Vietnam since 1924.
The most recent magnitude 6.8 and 6.7 earthquakes had occurred in DienBien Phu and Tuan Giao, both in the northern province of Dien Bien, in1935 and 1986.
The quakes killed and injured dozens of people, destroyed houses and caused cracks of up to 20km long on the ground.
Two earthquakes with magnitude 5.6-6.0, 13 with magnitude 5.1-5.5 andmore than 100 others with magnitude 4.6-5.0 have also occurred inVietnam in the last 90 years.
Another 108 strongearthquakes have been recorded in the country since 114AD with up to 18recorded in Hanoi, according to Trieu.
The scientist saidthere were signs of seismic quietness, or a temporary quiet period aftera strong seismic activation span, in the capital city.
"Earthquakes in Hanoi historically were not weak at all but over aprolonged period, not a single sign of seismic activity has beenrecorded. It's worrying!" he said.
The signs of an activeperiod after a seismic pause in the southern centre and the south ofVietnam with more and more frequent earthquakes of over magnitude 3.0since 2000 also needed attention, said Trieu.
Meanwhile,scientists said the central coast from Quang Tri Province to Ninh ThuanProvince could potentially be the most affected by tsunamis although theprobability of a tsunami in Vietnam was low.
In case ofan 8.6 magnitude earthquake at Manila Trench in the East Sea, west ofthe Philippines, this area could suffer tsunamis of 8-10m after abouttwo hours.
If a 9 magnitude earthquake occured in thezone, central Nha Trang City will be 6-7m under the water and more than19,000 people may be killed, according to the latest research conductedby the Geophysics Institute.
Professor Que said two otherlikely sources of earthquakes that could trigger tsunamis reaching theVietnamese coast included faults in the northern area of the East Seaand along the central coast.
"Therefore, the possibilityof earthquakes and tsunamis must be taken into account before erectingany plants and buildings along the coast," he said. /.
