Hydropower plants suspected of causing earthquakes in Kon Tum
Water storage in reservoirs at hydropower plants is related to earthquakes in the central highlands province of Kon Tum, according to an expert.
Anh said that if it were a tectonic earthquake, the cause was usually energy accumulation. In the case of stimulated earthquakes, it was usually caused by something like a hydroelectric dam.
"Although no damage to houses and people has been recorded in the area, the seismic vibrations caused by the earthquakes have impacted people’s lives," he said.
The IGP has deployed three monitoring stations in the area, which can better observe earthquakes and conduct research related to water storage in reservoirs.
Water storage in reservoirs at hydropower plants is related to earthquakes in the central highlands province of Kon Tum
Speaking to Dantri/Dtinews on May 11, director of the Institute of Geophysics (IGP) under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Nguyen Xuan Anh said that initial investigations showed that water storage at reservoirs was related to recent series of earthquakes in Kon Tum Province, so it was necessary to closely monitor and evaluate hydropower reservoirs.
"We came to inspect the quakes in Kon Tum on April 19, one day after the 4.5-Richter quakes occurred and then had a meeting with local authorities, concerned departments, and hydropower investors in the area to discuss the causes and measures to deal with the problems," Anh said. "Between 1903 to 2020, some 33 earthquakes with a magnitude from 2.5 on the Richter scale were recorded in Kon Plong District and the surrounding area. The largest was recorded in 1937 and was 3.9 on the Richter scale. But from April last year, earthquakes have had a more regular frequency with 169 quakes and tended to be stronger at 2.5 or higher."Anh said that if it were a tectonic earthquake, the cause was usually energy accumulation. In the case of stimulated earthquakes, it was usually caused by something like a hydroelectric dam.
"Although no damage to houses and people has been recorded in the area, the seismic vibrations caused by the earthquakes have impacted people’s lives," he said.
The IGP has deployed three monitoring stations in the area, which can better observe earthquakes and conduct research related to water storage in reservoirs.
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