An earthquake of magnitude 3.4 struck Nho Quan district, Ninh Binh on the morning of May 27, according to experts from the Institute of Geophysics. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 17 km and was accompanied by a small explosion and light ground shaking. People in nearby areas also felt a slight tremor.
The Da River fault zone, a level 2 fault, is believed to be responsible for the earthquake, as explained by Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Hong Phuong, a seismic expert at the Institute of Geophysics. The Da River fault is known for its tectonic activity and has been classified as a source of medium-level earthquakes in northern Vietnam. It stretches over 450 km in the northwest to southeast direction, running from the Pa Nam Cum region through Quynh Nhai to the East Sea.
Dr. Nguyen Xuan Anh, Director of the Institute of Geophysics, reassured that the earthquake in Ninh Binh was not unexpected given its location on the Da River fault. Tectonic earthquakes are caused by natural fault zones and are unpredictable due to their random occurrence. However, ongoing monitoring is crucial as they often occur in sequences and can pose a low natural disaster risk level.
In conclusion, while the earthquake itself poses a low natural disaster risk level, it highlights the importance of monitoring seismic activity in regions prone to tectonic activity such as Ninh Binh. The Da River fault zone should be closely monitored to minimize potential damage and loss of life caused by future earthquakes in this area.
