Dormant Faults in Vietnam May Reactivate, Scientists Warn

Geologists warn that many

in Vietnam, though currently , are silently accumulating and could trigger powerful earthquakes in the future. The warning follows a recent earthquake in Myanmar caused by the sudden release of stress built up over 200 years along a tectonic plate boundary.

Although Vietnam is not directly on a major plate boundary, it is strongly influenced by the collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates. This interaction has formed numerous fault zones, particularly in the northern and central regions.

One of the most active faults is the Red River fault zone, stretching from China’s Yunnan province to northern Vietnam. It has caused major earthquakes in the past, including a 6.8-magnitude quake in Điện Biên in 1935. Studies show that this zone could produce quakes as strong as 7.1 magnitude if near densely populated areas.

Other fault systems, such as those in Sơn La, Lai Châu–Điện Biên, and coastal central Vietnam, also show signs of long-term activity dating back to the Holocene. Experts emphasize that

does not mean safety. Data shows the Red River fault is still slowly shifting at 3–5 mm per year, suggesting ongoing stress .