5 earthquakes strike Vietnam’s Quang Ngai in one day

The first quake hit Mang But Commune at 1:36 am with a magnitude of 4.5 at a depth of 8.1 kilometers.

It was the strongest of the series and was rated level one on Vietnam’s natural disaster risk scale.

A second tremor measuring 2.8 followed at 2:30 am, and a third at 3:24 am measured 2.7.

Two more struck in the afternoon, one at 2:45 pm with a magnitude of 2.7 and another at 2:48 pm measuring 3.6.

The strongest quake rattled houses in mountainous areas and left many residents in Mang But and nearby communes unable to sleep.

“I was asleep when the whole house shook violently. Everyone woke up in a panic. Luckily nothing was damaged, but we barely slept until dawn,” said Vu Anh Nguyet from Mang Den Commune, which borders Mang But.

Other residents said they heard creaks from roofs and household items as the tremors spread dozens of kilometers from the epicenter.

“It wasn’t too strong, but enough to wake me up. In the morning I checked online and realized there had been earthquakes overnight,” said Pham Ngoc Thach from Hoi Phu Ward in neighboring Gia Lai Province.

Pham Thanh Binh, deputy chairman of the administration of Mang But Commune, confirmed the five quakes and said local officials immediately sent teams to inspect villages.

“So far there has been no damage to people or property. We continue inspections and are advising residents to remain calm,” he said.

Although the quakes caused no injuries or losses, their frequency has left locals uneasy.

Authorities said they will continue monitoring the situation and reminding residents of safety procedures during seismic activity.

According to the Institute of Earth Sciences, Quang Ngai has experienced nearly 1,100 small and moderate earthquakes since 2022, including 254 in 2022, 316 in 2023, and 436 in 2024.

The province recorded 80 more in the first four months of 2025, followed by dozens more since May, including nine in September alone.

The magnitude-4.5 quake on Thursday was the strongest of the year so far.

The institute noted that earthquakes in Quang Ngai’s highland areas are not only becoming more frequent but also more powerful.

The largest quake in 2021 measured 3.9, rising to 4.7 in 2022 and peaking at 5.0 in 2024.

In Vietnam, earthquakes of magnitude-3.0 to -3.9 are considered minor, 4.0 to 4.9 small, and 5.0 to 5.9 moderate, with potential for minor to moderate damage.

Quakes measuring 6.0 or above are considered strong.

Vietnam has experienced three major earthquakes in modern history, all in northern Dien Bien Province in 1935, 1983, and 2001, with magnitudes of 6.9, 6.7, and 5.3, respectively.