Surveying, propagating and guiding earthquake response skills for people in the epicenter area of Kon Prong district, Kon Tum province

09/08/2024

According to news from the Institute of Geophysics, on July 28 and 29, 2024, there were many earthquakes in a row in Kon Prong district, Kon Tum province, in which the large earthquake occurred at 11:35 minutes 10 seconds on July 28, 2024 with a magnitude M = 5.0, level 2 natural disaster risk in the epicenter and surrounding areas (this is the largest earthquake observed since 1903 in the region).

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang signed and issued the Prime Minister's Official Telegram 73/CD-TTg dated July 29, 2024 on inspecting and proactively overcoming the consequences of the earthquake in Kon Prong district, Kon Tum province. Official telegram to the People's Committees of the provinces: Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Quang Ngai, Quang Nam; Office of the National Civil Defense Steering Committee; the Ministries of National Defense, Public Security, Natural Resources and Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Industry and Trade, Transport, Science and Technology; and Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.

Implementing the Prime Minister's Official Telegram, President of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology directed the Institute of Geophysics to continue to monitor the development and aftershocks of earthquakes, coordinate with functional agencies, mobilize experts and scientists to clarify the causes of the abnormal increase in earthquakes in the region, promptly inform the authorities and people to serve the communication and direct the response, avoiding bad actors taking advantage of it to cause confusion and instability among the people.

Officials of Institute of Geophysics propagate and guide earthquake response skills to the people of Kon Prong district, Kon Tum

Under the direction of President of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, from August 1, 2024 to August 5, 2024, Institute of Geophysics sent a delegation to the field in Kon Prong district, Kon Tum province, coordinating to propagate and guide earthquake response skills for people in the area of the epicenter of the M=5.0 earthquake in order to reduce the risks caused by the earthquake as well as serve the safety of local people in the situation of the recent earthquake. The delegation surveyed, propagated, guided and distributed leaflets to people about earthquake response skills at earthquake-affected locations such as Dak Tang, Dak Nen, Dak Ring, Mang But, and Mang Cang.

Specifically, on August 1, 2024 and August 2, 2024, the delegation of the Institute of Geophysics went to villages in Dak Tang commune and Mang But, near the earthquake area of Kon Prong district to distribute leaflets and guidance materials. At the same time, directly exchange with people solutions to prevent earthquakes, how to respond to specific situations to mitigate damage caused by natural disasters. The delegation will continue to go to villages to propagate to people in the earthquake area to stabilize the psychology and life of local people.

According to Institute of Geophysics, on July 28, 2024, Kon Prong district experienced 21 earthquakes, of which the largest was 5 degrees, causing tremors in many areas of the Central Highlands and Central regions hundreds of kilometers away. On July 29, 2024, the district recorded 24 more matches, and then gradually reduced to just a few matches a day with minor tremors. The number of earthquakes in Kon Prong district and its surroundings occurs frequently, the trend has gradually strengthened from April 2021 to now. In 2021, 169 earthquakes greater than 2.5 magnitude were recorded. In April 2022, the area where the largest collision occurred was 4.5 degrees. Four months later the level raised to 4.7 degrees. The Institute of Geophysics has installed 11 earthquake monitoring stations in the locality, the updated data is relatively good, and can be promptly warned.

People in the earthquake area attended the earthquake response training

A representative of Institute of Geophysics said that it is currently very difficult to predict when an earthquake will occur in the world. Therefore, countries focus on solutions to mitigate the consequences of earthquakes such as prioritizing research and construction of buildings that are highly resistant to aftershocks and training people in survival skills in the event of natural disasters.

From 2021 to now, when an earthquake occurs, Institute of Geophysics, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and local authorities have trained in natural disaster prevention and control drills. People are instructed on how to build houses to ensure that the foundation, walls and roof withstand the best force. The propaganda and guidance activities of the Institute of Geophysics delegation have had a positive impact on the people, helping them to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to respond to earthquakes, thereby minimizing damage and enhancing the safety of the community.

EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE SKILLS

1. Before an earthquake:

- Make an earthquake safety plan.
- Make an earthquake plan for the whole family: Where to meet after the earthquake, a list of important phone numbers, family contacts...
- Learn how to turn on and off gas, electricity, and water.

2. During an earthquake

+ Indoor:
- Kneel down, cover your head with your hands or anything, hide under a large and sturdy table.
- If there are no tables or objects that can shelter underneath, at least stay away from glazed windows, go to the corner of the wall, and stay in place, bending down as much as you can to protect your important parts.
- Do not use the elevator, stay indoors, or use the stairs if necessary.
+ What if an earthquake occurs while you are sleeping?
- Stay in bed
- Protect your head with a pillow and lie face down.
- If a shelf on your bed or a lamp hanging from the ceiling can fall on your head, get under the bed or move to another safe place such as the corner of the room and when it is safe to do so, go outside.
+ On the street:
- Stay away from high-rise buildings, power lines, tunnels, bridges.
- While driving: Stop on the side of the road, do not get out of the car until the earthquake stops.
- Do not attempt to get over or over bridges as they may collapse.
- If near the coast: Sit down, protect your head with your hands, when the shaking stops, run quickly to higher ground and deep inland.
- If near a sloping hill: Stay away from steep slopes as there may be landslides.
- When stuck in the rubble: Do not scream, cover your nose or mouth with your hands or a towel. Use a hard object to knock 3 hours at a time on the hard object to report their location to the rescue.

3. After an earthquake

- Check the injured, check your own injuries before helping others.
- Do not move people who are seriously injured, unless they are at risk of further harm. First aid and call for ambulance and rescue.
- Check for damages.
- If there is a small fire in the house or in the vicinity: Immediately extinguish it, close the gas valve, do not turn the gas and electricity back on by yourself, do not use matches or lighters.

Some other photos of activities to disseminate, disseminate and guide earthquake response skills for people in Kon Prong and Kon Tum districts of Institute of Geophysics:

Translated by Phuong Ha
Link to Vietnamese version

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