South African Earthquake

Shortly after the unusual pause and straight reversal of the planetary spin axis, the strongest regional earthquake in 100 years along the East African Rift System where seismic activity is extremely rare. Peace Ross

Quake Shakes Mozambique Source Article

The strongest earthquake to hit southern Africa in 100 years killed at least two people in northern Mozambique on Thursday and sent residents across the region frightened by strong aftershocks into the streets. The magnitude 7.5 earthquake was felt as far south as Johannesburg and Durban in South Africa. Ian Saunders of South Africa's Council for Geosciences said the quake took place on East Africa's rift system. "It was the largest earthquake to have occurred in the rift system since 1906. ... It's rare for the southern African region. We haven't seen such a thing for a long time," he said. Mozambique's mines minister said one person was killed and at least 18 others injured when the quake struck just after midnight (2200 GMT on Wednesday) about 160 km (100 miles) southwest of Mozambique's northern port of Beira. Radio Mozambique reported that another person died, apparently of a heart attack, at a local hospital as the quake hit. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported at least three significant aftershocks during the night. Police in Beira denied persistent rumours that a building had collapsed in the city, although local journalists said at least one house had fallen down in the rural district where the quake was centred. Governor Raimundo Diomba of Manica province said officials were fanning out into the countryside to assess damage, but communications were difficult. "We have no human or material damage to report yet, we sent teams to make a detailed evaluation of the situation," he said. Minister of Mineral Resources Esperanza Bias, speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting convened to discuss the earthquake, said one person died and 13 were injured in largely rural Manica. Four more were injured in Beira, she said. Bias said the government had asked emergency officials to quickly draw up plans to deal with such big earthquakes, which are rare in the region.