 |
Moderate Earthquake Hits Vietnam
A rare earthquake believed to be the strongest in Vietnam in a decade damaged many houses and sent panicked residents into the streets, where they stayed all night to avoid aftershocks, officials said Tuesday.
The 5.3-magnitude quake struck the town of Dien Bien Phu at 10:51 p.m. Monday night, said Ho Sy Lam of the provincial People's Committee. Aftershocks continued until Tuesday morning, he said.
Earthquake experts in Hanoi said the quake was the worst to hit Vietnam in a decade. It also was the strongest to hit Lai Chau province since 1983.
Many houses were damaged, and several people were injured as they tried to escape, including some who jumped from balconies, Lam said. There were no reports of deaths.
Some schools and office buildings damaged by the quake were closed Tuesday for inspection, he said.
In This Section
|