Magnitude-3.9 earthquake strikes near Vietnam-Laos border

The quake occurred at 12:02 am, with a depth of about 16 kilometers, according to the Earthquake Information and Tsunami Warning Center under the Institute of Earth Sciences.

The tremor poses no risk of natural disaster, authorities said, adding that monitoring is ongoing.

This is the second earthquake in the same Laotian province, following an earlier quake on November 12, which measured 4.8 in magnitude.

Footage from residents’ cameras in several border communes in Thanh Hoa near the second quake’s epicenter captured the shaking clearly.

The earlier quake, which occurred roughly five kilometers from Na Meo at a depth of about 10 kilometers, was felt not only in Thanh Hoa but also across multiple northern and north-central provinces, including Hanoi, Phu Tho, Ninh Binh, and Nghe An.

In Vietnam, earthquakes of magnitude-3–3.9 are considered minor, sometimes noticeable to residents but rarely causing any damage.

Tremors of magnitude-4–4.9 are classified as light, often rattling household items and producing brief noises, with minimal to no harm.

Earthquakes measuring 5–5.9 are considered moderate and may cause limited structural damage, while those around magnitude-6 can result in more serious destruction.

According to official data, Vietnam has historically experienced three major earthquakes, all in northern Dien Bien Province, in 1935, 1983, and 2001, with magnitudes of 6.9, 6.7, and 5.3, respectively.