On April 15, exchanging with Lao Dong Newspaper reporters about the 3.0 Richter scale earthquake that occurred in Thac Ba commune (Lao Cai), Mr. Nguyen Xuan Anh, Director of the Institute of Earth Sciences, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, provided information about the cause, level of impact as well as the possibility of aftershocks in the near future.
Sir, what is the main cause of the earthquake in the Thac Ba area?
According to initial monitoring and analysis data from the Earthquake and Tsunami Warning Center, at 4:31 PM on April 14, 2026, an earthquake of magnitude 3.0, focal depth of about 16.8 km, was recorded in Thac Ba commune area.
The earthquake occurred in the Song Chay fault zone. With the existing data, we believe that it is likely a tectonic earthquake, associated with the process of releasing energy accumulated in the ground due to the natural movement of the regional geological structures.
Is this earthquake related to geological fault zones in the area and water storage activities of Thac Ba Lake, sir?
This earthquake occurred in an area with a complex tectonic plate, related to the Song Chay fault zones. In theory, reservoir water storage can change the stress and water pressure in soil and rocks, thereby contributing to promoting induced earthquakes.
However, with this 3.0 magnitude earthquake, there is not enough scientific basis to immediately conclude that it is related to water storage activities of Thac Ba Lake.
With a magnitude of 3.0 occurring near the Thac Ba Lake area, should people worry about the safety of the dam and reservoir works?
With a magnitude of 3.0 and a disaster risk level of 0, this is a small earthquake, people should not panic. This earthquake is unlikely to affect dam safety. However, the final assessment must still be based on technical monitoring data and actual inspection by the project management unit.
In the near future, is there a possibility of aftershocks in this area, sir?
The Earth Science Institute is still continuing to monitor earthquake activity here. The possibility of small aftershocks is possible, as earthquakes can often occur in chains.
However, with an earthquake of magnitude 3.0 as the main one, if there are aftershocks, it is likely to be weaker than the main one and the level of impact is usually not large.
Looking broader, is the Northern region a place where earthquakes occur frequently, sir?
The Northern region, especially the Northwest region and the Lao Cai - Yen Bai range (old), is one of the areas with relatively clear earthquake activity in Vietnam.
Historically, this area has recorded strong earthquakes such as the Dien Bien earthquake in 1935 with a magnitude of 6.8 and the Tuan Giao earthquake in 1983 with a magnitude of 6.7. However, most of the earthquakes recorded today are small to medium in magnitude; strong earthquakes with the risk of causing significant damage do not occur frequently.
Thank you very much, sir!
