Mud eruptions occurring in Suoi Da hamlet, Loi Hai commune, Thuan Bac district in the central province of Ninh Thuan during the past two months have stirred public anxiety about a potential earthquake there amid Japan’s devastating tremors.

Mau Thi Lanh, a local who has been living in the area for 50 years, told Thanh Nien she used to witness strange mud eruptions long time ago, but they disappeared soon later.

“Since mud holes occurred, locals are afraid to cultivate on these rice lands,” she said.

Other locals said at first, they just saw a small hole, but it became larger day by day, adding other eruption points began to appear two months ago.

So far, five mud holes have been recorded with the largest being 7m deep and 2m in diameter.

However, there is no immediate report of any unusual geological phenomenon in this locality.

Farmers can cultivate rice and sugar-canes in several fields nearby as usual.

However, land depressions have begun happening around these mud holes.

The ash erupted from the mud holes has no special smell and is of normal temperature.

Vo Chi, deputy head of Thuan Bac District’s People’s Committee, said the local authorities have sent staff to protect these mud holes and prevent curiosity-seekers and livestock from approaching the scene.

Meanwhile, Tuoi Tre quoted Ho Van Hung – director of the province’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment - as saying that the Department asked relevant authorities to carry out a research into the phenomenon in an effort to seek effective solutions and to identify its nature.

Chi added that some companies have suggested taking advantage of the eruption phenomena to promote tourism and attract tourists because according to them, they may be mineral mud, which is good for health.

However, local authorities have yet to give any comments about the tourism idea because they are still waiting for reports from relevant authorities.

Le Huy Minh, director of the Vietnam Earthquake and Tsunami Warning Center, told Thanh Nien Vietnam should keep close a watch on this unusual case.

Possible link to volcanoes, no harm reported

According to Minh, the ash is not harmful if it has no special smell and is of normal temperature.

“The mud’s temperature is not high, so it’s not a signal of possible quake,” Minh said.

Dr. Nguyen Hong Phuong, vice director of the Center, claimed that it is a normal phenomenon and is unrelated to a possible quake.

According to him, this phenomenon takes place after a strong earthquake, but no quake has been reported in the province in the past time, Phuong concluded.

Phuong said that this phenomenon’s presence may be due to light volcano eruption or changes inside earth.

“I claimed this phenomenon doesn’t pose dangers to humanity and property.

Nevertheless, we shouldn’t conduct activities or manufactures in this mud-spurting area [which covers around 2,000 sq.m]” he warned.

Source: Thanh Nien/Tuoi Tre