Central mud eruptions linked to mud volcano: official
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Mud eruptions discovered in Suoi Da hamlet in Ninh Thuan central province during the past two months is a normal geothermic phenomenon, claimed local scientist.
According to Dr. Doan Dinh Lam, head of Sediment Department under Vietnam National Institute of Sciences and Technology, the recent mud eruptions in Ninh Thuan resulted from activities by geo-excreted liquids and gases inside the earth.
“A gas flow will face an ecological layer of mud on its way to reaching the surface,” Lam said. “If it encounters a weak ecological layer, it will go through it and takes mud with itself to the surface. Hence, it was scientifically referred to as mud volcano.”
In fact, mud volcanoes are not harmful to human health. In the case of mineral mud, it has even been exploited to promote tourism and attract tourists.
However, according to Lam, local authorities should examine their components before putting them to any health service.
“Real volcanoes erupt hot magma, volcanic ash, and gases from below to the surface while mud volcanoes just erupt mud at a fairly cool temperature. Therefore, it is unrelated to a possible earthquake,” said Lam.
Nevertheless, Lam also warned that local authorities should prevent curiosity-seekers from approaching the mud-spurting area due to the fragile structure of the soil, which could collapse and pose dangers to them.
Some regions in Vietnam, especially in the central region, also see this geothermic phenomenon.
Mud volcanoes have been identified in some other countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, the US, and Russia.
