VIENTIANE, Nov 28 (NNN-KPL) – Damage to earthquakes in Hongsa and Xaysathan districts, in norhtern Lao province of Xayaboury, last week, has been estimated at over two billion kip (over 225,453 U.S. dollars), with over 300 families affected, the government said today (Thursday).
Two earthquakes measuring 6.4 and 5.9 magnitudes, struck the districts of Hongsa and Xaysathan of Xayaboury (some 240 km north of the Lao capital Vientiane) last Thursday, injuring eight people, local daily Vientiane Times reported, quoting Director of Labour and Social Welfare Department, Nouphone Xaypanyachith.
Nouphone said, provincial authorities and army personnel were helping people carry out repairs, but construction materials were still needed for this work.
A total of 134 families in 17 villages in Hongsa district were affected, while 71 houses, 11 schools, 12 temples, four hospital centres, and two offices suffered varying degrees of damage. Seven other houses were damaged beyond repair and 24 families suffered damage to their belongings. The total property damage in Hongsa has been estimated at 1.1 billion kip (more than 123,999 U.S. dollars).
Meanwhile, 169 families in 18 villages of Xaysathan district were affected, and three people were injured. Sixteen houses were damaged beyond repair, 29 houses sustained moderate damage, and 124 houses slightly affected. Eight offices and over one km of road also sustained structural damage. Damage to property in Xaysathan district has been estimated at 976 million kip (over 110,021 U.S. dollars), said the report.
The epicentre of the quakes was recorded at a depth of five km and about 19 km southeast of Nam Chang village in Chalerm Prakiat, in Thailand’s Nan province.
According to the Meteorology and Hydrology Department, there were 18 earthquakes in total, with two being particularly strong.
The first took place at 4:03 a.m. local time last Thursday and registered a magnitude of 5.9 in central Hongsa district, and the border area between northern Thailand and Laos. This was followed by another at 6:50 a.m. local time on the same day with a magnitude of 6.4, according to the report.– NNN-KPL