Chipinge experiences earthquake

By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |

The Meteorological Services Department has announced that Chipinge, an eastern district close to the border with Mozambique, on Thursday experienced an earth tremor.

The earthquake that measured 5.6 on the Richter scale occurred at 1906 hours, having spread from Mozambique, according a statement by the department on Friday.

“The earthquake was felt in Chipinge and surrounding areas. A number of people in Chipinge felt the earthquake. They felt the movements, heard the rumbling and the shaking and most were frightened.

“Mozambique and surrounding areas in Manicaland are within the line of weakness of the Great East African Rift System, which extends all the way from the Red Sea in the north to Manicaland and into Mozambique in the south.

“We recorded a number of foreshocks on September 21 thus indicating how susceptible the area is to earthquakes,” said the department.

An earthquake that started from Mozambique in 2006 destroyed some buildings in Chipinge, but not this time.

This year alone, said the department, Zimbabwe has recorded a number of slight earthquakes, with some being felt in Kariba, Karoi, Bulawayo and Chipinge.

“On August 23 2016, an earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale was experienced north of Karoi Town at 1502hrs.

“The main causes of earthquakes in Zimbabwe are largely plate tectonics closely related to the east African rift system, mining and reservoir induced.

“We have recorded a number of mining induced earthquakes in Matabeleland South, especially in Gwanda and also in the Midlands,” added the department. Nehanda Radio
.