Efforts requested to overcome consequences of earthquake in Lai Chau
The Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control on June 16 issued an official message requesting joint efforts of various agencies to overcome consequences of a strong earthquake that hit the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau earlier on the day.
Data of the earthquake in Lai Chau province is being shown on a computer screen (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – ꧒The Central Steering Committee forNatural Disaster Prevention and Control on June 16 issued an official messagerequesting joint efforts of various agencies to overcome consequences of astrong earthquake that hit the northern mountainous province of Lai Chauearlier on the day.
The 4.9-magnitude quake occurred in Muong Te district of theprovince at 13:12 hours on June 16, with its epicentre about 12.6 km underground,according to the Institute of Geophysics at the Vietnam Academy of Science andTechnology. Alert Level 4 and 3 have been raised around the epicenterand neighbouring areas. The steering board on natural disaster prevention andcontrol, search and rescue of Lai Chau province is asked to keep a close eye onthe situation and timely inform local authorities and residents. It also needs to survey the impact of the earthquake onlocal reservoirs, hydropower plants and houses in order to build appropriateresponse plans. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and theMinistry of Industry and Trade are responsible for ensuring safety inreservoirs and irrigational works in quake-affected areas. Media agencies are asked to promptly update information onthe incident and disseminate disaster response measures. Relevant agencies must be on watch round the clock and frequentlyreport to the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention andControl. According to Nguyen Khanh Yen,Secretary of the Party Committee of Muong Te commune (Muong Te district), anumber of houses and public works were damaged by the earthquake. Four childrenat a local kindergarten suffered from slight injuries when a plaster ceilingcollapsed on them./.
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Data of the earthquake in Lai Chau province is being shown on a computer screen (Photo: VNA) 
