Many big cities in Vietnam are at risk of earthquakes

Across Vietnam's territory, there are 30 areas that can generate earthquakes. The strongest shockwave reached 6.8 Richter levels, enough to knock down houses.

At a conference on earthquake risk in Vietnam held in Hanoi for 2 days (March 12-13), many domestic and foreign scientists expressed concerns about the threat of earthquakes and tsunamis. in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam.

According to statistics, from North to South Vietnam, there are all 30 areas that can generate earthquakes. The vibration level is in the range of 5.5 - 6.8 Richter levels (enough for houses to be damaged until destruction). In which, two big cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, are also located in or near these areas.

According to Professor Cao Dinh Trieu, Institute of Geophysics, Vietnam is located in an area with strong geological and fracture activities. Earthquakes in our country occasionally appear but with strong intensity as in Dien Bien in 1935 (6.7 Richter scale), Tuan Giao - Lai Chau in 1983 (6.8 Richter scale) .

"Although earthquakes in Vietnam are less likely to happen, they are complicated. Hanoi is located in the Red River fault zone - Chay river and near other areas such as Lo river, Dong Trieu and Son La rivers. exclusion " , Trieu said.

For HCMC, although not on any fault zone, the biggest seismic risk is likely to arise from the vibration propagation from strong regional earthquakes and amplification of ground vibration. Local background effects caused under the load of earthquakes. The soft ground in this city is a factor contributing to the amplification of seismic vibrations.

Construction works in Vietnam are very vulnerable if earthquakes occur.Artwork: Hoang Ha.

According to Dr. Nguyen Hong Phuong, deputy director of the Earthquake Alert and Tsunami Warning Center, the most worrying thing is the failure to apply seismic resistance standards for construction works, especially in cities. great.

"The vast majority of construction works in our country have not yet applied this standard. Only after Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City suffered some strong aftershocks in recent years, people are starting to think" , he said. Phuong said.

With the study of earthquake risk assessment of big cities in the last 7 years, Mr. Phuong said that, in Hanoi, if an earthquake with a maximum intensity calculated (6.7 Richter scale), 30% of houses will be destroyed. Human damage cannot be predicted.

"The worst impact is the old town and the old apartment buildings, hospitals, schools . do not apply shock resistance standards", Mr. Phuong affirmed.

Also according to Mr. Phuong, before 2006, Vietnam did not have a design regulation in the earthquake area (seismic resistance design). However, the implementation of this standard is also not required for construction works.