Nghe An is a locality where earthquakes frequently occur.
(Baonghean.vn) - Since the beginning of the year, Vietnam has experienced more than 30 earthquakes, with the 4.2 magnitude earthquake in Nghe An being the largest.
4.2 magnitude earthquake in Nghe An
(Baonghean.vn) - At 3:32 PM on November 20th, many areas of Nghe An province recorded an earthquake. The Institute of Geophysics recorded the earthquake as having a magnitude of 4.2, with a focal depth of approximately 10.0 km, located in Tan Ky district, Nghe An province.
Among these, the largest earthquake was the 4.2 magnitude moment earthquake that occurred on the afternoon of November 20th in Nghe An province. In addition, there were two 4 magnitude moment earthquakes that occurred in Dien Bien Dong district (Dien Bien province) on May 21st and June 22nd. The remaining earthquakes throughout the year ranged from 2.4 to 3.8 magnitude moment.
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| The earthquake's epicenter was in Nghe An province. |
However, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Anh, Director of the Institute of Geophysics (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology), said that people should not be overly worried about this earthquake. "Nghe An is also a locality where earthquakes frequently occur. This is because it is located within a fault system. Usually, earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.0 or higher cause damage," Dr. Xuan Anh said.
The Director of the Institute of Geophysics also stated that yesterday's earthquake in Nghe An had a magnitude of 4.2, which is the moment magnitude scale, not the Richter scale as some newspapers reported. The moment magnitude scale is a method of measuring earthquake strength developed in 1979 by Tom Hanks and Kanamori Hiroo, as a successor to the Richter scale (local magnitude scale). In practice today, scientists usually calculate using the moment magnitude scale, because the older Richter scale is not suitable for magnitudes greater than 6.8.
According to scientists, recorded earthquake epicenters are not randomly distributed, but are concentrated in specific zones. In the North, earthquakes occur along the Muong La - Bac Yen, Son La, and Song Ma fault zones.
During an earthquake, experts advise people to hold onto a door frame or take shelter under a table if they are in a sturdy building. If outdoors, people should stay away from power lines and utility poles and run to an open area. If driving, try to pull over and stop.
