Over 300 Ho Chi Minh City apartments report wall cracks following tremors from Myanmar quake

Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City will inspect an apartment complex in District 8 after more than 300 apartment owners reported wall cracks, suspected to be caused by tremors from Myanmar’s recent magnitude-7.7 earthquake.

The District 8 administration confirmed on Sunday that it had received resident complaints from the Diamond Riverside apartment complex about suspected structural damage following seismic aftershocks from Myanmar's powerful earthquake last Friday.

The district has since reported the issue to the municipal administration, requesting technical inspections to assess the building's safety.

A team of experts is expected to be deployed to evaluate the possible impact of ground movement on the 29-story complex, which consists of four blocks and houses nearly 5,000 residents across 1,670 units.

While some residents were hesitant to speak to the press, several told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper the cracks appeared in isolated units and were mostly minor.

Initial inspections by the building management board found cracks in some walls and tiles, but no apparent damage to core structural elements such as concrete columns, basement levels, or water tanks.

As of last Friday, 342 apartments had reported wall cracks, with additional damage noted in shared areas like hallways and the rooftop terrace, where tiles were dislodged or surfaces appeared warped.

The incident gained traction after reports and social media posts highlighted widespread concerns at the complex.

However, the true extent and cause of the damage remain under investigation.

Local authorities have pledged to closely monitor the situation and conduct detailed safety assessments to ensure the building remains safe for residents.

The deadly quake, which struck Myanmar at 1:20 pm (Vietnam time) on Friday, is among the biggest to jolt the Southeast Asian nation in the last century.

Its tremors were felt in neighboring regions, including the Thai capital Bangkok and two major Vietnamese cities -- Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Reuters cited Myanmar’s military government as saying that the quake left around 1,700 people dead, 3,400 injured, and over 300 missing as of Sunday.

Many countries including India, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Russia, and Vietnam have sent rescue teams and relief supplies to Myanmar.

On Sunday afternoon, a Vietnamese rescue delegation comprising 106 members from the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security arrived in Yangon Airport in Myanmar to assist with earthquake relief efforts.

Vietnam also provided Myanmar with emergency relief aid worth US$300,000, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Minh Duy - Ai Nhan - Phuong Nhi / Tuoi Tre

(2025/03/31-17:42)