A strong 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit Northwestern Laos, near the Lao-Thai border, on Thursday. Lao Meteorology and Hydrology Department reported that there were 18 earthquakes in total, with two among them were notably strong.
The earthquakes Laos, which epicenter was in the Hongsa district (approximately 240 km north of Vientiane), occurred within the depth of 10 km. Reportedly, every district felt the impact of the quakes, but the impact was greater at the central Hongsa.
Furthermore, people in Bangkok, which was more than 700 kilometers away, could feel the impact. Additionally, skyscrapers in Bangkok reportedly sway.
Three hours prior to the 6.1 magnitude earthquake, a 5.7 one hit the same region in Laos. To be precise, it was close to the Xayaburi dam project site.
Accordingly, the earthquakes did not only affect Laos and Thailand. Neighboring Vietnam, Myanmar, and China reported that they also felt the impact.
Also Read: Laos to Invest in Disaster Risk Reduction
The Damage Caused by the Earthquake in Laos
Despite not causing notably grave damage, the continual earthquakes prompted several damages. According to Xinhua, two people suffered from slight injuries.
The quakes also inflicted damage on 17 buildings. Lae Onsomboun, director of the Hongsa district office, showed that the 17 buildings included 13 houses and four temples.
“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,” said Lae Onsomboun.
Following the quake, the Hongsa Thermal Power Plant suspended operations. However, there was no report of major damage and the electricity generation would be able to resume soon.
The Laos-China Railway Co. Ltd. reported that construction of the railway running through northern Laos did not suffer damage from the earthquake.
Despite the grave condition, the detailed information pertaining to the damage of the earthquake is slow to unveil. This is so for Laos still remains a closed country.
However, so far, there is no report of dead casualties.
Also Read: Typhoon Hagibis Hit Japan Hard, Business and Economy Disrupted
