Van Ho and Moc Chau districts in the northern mountainous province of Son La were shaken by two earthquakes measuring 4.2 and 4.3 on the Richter scale on August 18 morning, according the Institute of Geophysics.

Earthquakes cause huge damage to the homes of local people
 

The initial earthquake was recorded at 8:13 a.m. with its epicentre occuring at a depth of 8.1 km.

Following this, a second tremor took place only a few minutes after the first one, with the epicentre also being registered at a depth of 8.1 km. 

Son La province has issued natural disaster alerts level 1 following the two consecutive earthquakes.

Moc Chau district suffered a number of small and significant earthquakes in late July and early August, causing plenty of damage to the homes of local people throughout the region.