VietNamNet Bridge – Continuous earthquake and aftershocks made people in Bac Tra My district in Quang Nam province fearful. Many families have left their homes to go to the forest to avoid the risk from the "unwelcome guests."

Scientists to study recurring earthquakes in Bac Tra My District
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Natural calamities expose under-quality construction works

From the evening of September 3 through the morning of September 7, at lest 10 quakes were reported in Bac Tra My district, Quang Nam province. The most recent earthquake occurred at around 9.27 am on September 7 pushed local people’s fear and anxiety to the extreme point.

The quake lasted for several seconds but it made people panic. Hundreds of people ran out of their houses, children cried out loud, etc. In particular, the quake which was accompanied with underground explosions took place during the school hour, making thousands of students in the town of Bac Tra My panic. They rushed to get away under the table, and then ran out to the school yard.

On Dan Tri, teacher Do Thi Bich Phuong of Hoa Phuong Kindergarten (Village 1, Tra Doc commune) said that as soon as the earthquake happened, children cried and ran to the yard. Many pieces of ceiling dropped down so teachers had to hold children to run out.

The teacher added that after the earthquake, the kindergarten temporarily closed for fear of collapse if earthquakes continue to occur.

Also because of the earthquakes, tens of households left their homes in the resettlement zone of the Song Tranh hydropower plant to live in temporary tents in the forest. There are at least 24 ethnic minority households in Tra Doc commune, Bac Tra My district, have built canvas in the forest for temporary living.

The commune authorities cannot convince them to stay because their homes are cracked, so they leave. But the number of people who go away from the resettlement zone will rise in the coming days if the earthquake continues.

The people who still stay in the resettlement zone fear because they cannot leave their homes since their children are attending school here and if they leave; their business will be also affected.

Some people also said that they could not sell their land to move to other places because nobody wants to buy houses in the earthquake zone. For these families, they have packed up already to move anytime. Many people here had to open their doors at night so they can run out of their house as soon as possible when quakes occur.



Talking to the Labor Newspaper, Dang Phong, Chairman of Bac Tra My district confirmed that nearly 40 houses in the resettlement zone have been left fallow after people returned to the forest.

Related to this case, Quang Nam Province People's Committee has sent a written petition to the Prime Minister to ask the PM to direct the related ministries to survey, study of earthquakes in Bac Tra My district and inspect operational safety of the Song Tranh 2 dam.

The Quang Ngai steering board for flood and storm prevention told local authorities to instruct local people some knowledge and measures to cope with earthquakes.

Dr. Le Huy Minh, Deputy Director of the Institute of Geophysics, Director of Information Center on Earthquake and Tsunami Warning, told the press that 10 leading experts of the Institute of Geology and Institute of Geophysics participate in a field survey team in Bac Tra My, to assess the situation, identify the specific cause for consecutive earthquakes around the Song Tranh 2 hydropower plant. When there is sufficient data, scientists will review and analyze, making specific recommendations.

P. Lan