Thirteen houses hit by magnitude 6.4 earthquake in Xayaboury

Thirteen houses in Hongsa district, Xayaboury province, were damaged after earthquakes measuring 6.4 and 5.9 on the Richter scale struck the district early on Thursday morning.
Fortunately only two people were slightly injured during the quakes.
Director of the Hongsa district office, Mr Lae Onsomboun, told Vientiane Times an initial assessment revealed that 13 houses and four temples were damaged in the villages of Simoungkhoun, Sibounheuang, Thaenkham, Nakaenkham, and Meuanghan.

 “Many of the houses have broken walls. Two people sustained minor injuries and were taken to hospital. We are now assessing the damage but have yet to receive reports from some villages,” he said.
According to the Meteorology and Hydrology Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, there were 18 earthquakes in total, with two being particularly strong.
The first took place at 4:03am and registered 5.9 on the Richter scale in central Hongsa district, about 38km from the provincial capital, close to the Thai border. This was followed by another at 6:50 am with a magnitude of 6.4.
The quake was felt in every district of the province but most strongly in central Hongsa district.
The shockwaves were felt much further afield and the department is warning people, especially those living close to the affected area, to be on the alert and listen out for any information issued by the department.
The Hongsa Power Co., Ltd. issued a notice yesterday informing the public and its staff about the earthquakes.
The company has suspended operations at the power plant while investigations are carried out.  A staff member said the power plant itself did not sustain any damage because it was built to high standards and only the outer walls were affected.
On the same day, the Earthquake Observation Division of the Thai Meteorological Department reported that the quake was felt by residents of many adjacent provinces including Loei, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Chiang Rai, Phrae, Kalasin, Lampang and Udon Thani, according to The Nation.
In Vietnam, people living in apartment buildings in some areas of Hanoi felt two minutes of light tremors around 7am on Thursday. Many city residents reported that they felt their furniture shaking, according to the Vietnam News. Residents of Vinh in central Nghệ An province, also felt the tremor.
In Laos, earthquakes measuring 4.0 and 4.7 on the Richter scale occurred in Phongsaly and Luang Namtha provinces in January this year.
In Phongsaly, a quake measuring 4.7 occurred about 5km below ground in Ngai Neua village, Bountay district, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
An earthquake also occurred in Tintok village, Namtha district, but no effects were felt. This was the second time an earthquake was recorded in Namtha district, with the first recorded three years ago in Nam Thalarn village.

ByPhomphong Laoin
(Latest Update November 22, 2019)