Earthquake rattles Mozambique, Chipinge
Thursday, 07 July 2011 04:00


By Peter Matambanadzo

AN earthquake measuring 4,5 on the Richter scale rocked the lower Save Valley in Mozambique at lunchtime yesterday and was felt in eastern Zimbabwe.
According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake struck at 12:37pm in an area that has seen more than a dozen quakes in the last 20 years, including two very large ones in 2006 that were felt as far as Harare.

The earthquake was severe in Chipinge where panic-stricken residents scurried for cover.
No deaths or injuries were recorded.

Zimbabwe's Goetz Observatory in Bulawayo yesterday said it is still busy putting together all readings.
"It (earthquake) measured 4,5 on the Richter scale, but we are still gathering all the information from other regional stations in Mozambique and Madagascar," Mr Brassnavy Manzunzu a senior seismologist at Goetz Observatory said.

Mr Philemon Mazvazva of Chipinge said the tremor shook tall buildings in the area.
"It was just minor but people panicked and rushed for cover," Mr Mazvazva said, adding: "Only tall buildings were affected, but it was not serious at all and no one was injured."

The quake originated 25,8km underground in the same section of the southern end of the East African Rift Valley that saw the two largest earthquakes in decades in Southern Africa just five years ago.
In February 2006, the biggest Southern African earthquake in decades struck the Save Valley in Mozambique, shaking much of Zimbabwe and Mozambique and parts of northeast South Afri-ca.

The quake measuring 7,5 on the Richter scale was centred on the north bank of the Save River, very close to a national park in a sparsely settled area.
Injuries and damages were minimal with initial reports indicating just two people had died in a small settlement a few kilometres from the epicentre.

Espungabera in Mozambique, and Chipinge and Chimanimani in Zimbabwe - the nearest towns to the epicentre - were badly shaken but damage was negligible.
Beira - the nearest city, about 225km away - was shaken but again with no significant dama-ge.

A second powerful, but slightly less severe quake shook the same area a few months later.
The Save flows through the lower arm of the Great Rift Valley at the point where the earthquake struck.

While the valley is notorious for frequent low level tremors, major earthquakes are very rare.

I was in the SAVE in Feb 2006 durring that quake. We were eating lunch.

It shook up pretty good.

Tony, that 2006 "earthquake" was later traced to the after-effects of you bratwurst and sauerkraut lunch, wasn't it? :-)

quote:

"Only tall buildings were affected, but it was not serious at all and no one

tall buildings in Chipinge? what, 2 stories?

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Tony, that 2006 "earthquake" was later traced to the after-effects of you bratwurst and sauerkraut lunch, wasn't it? :-)

Cannot remember what we were having for lunch,I do know it was good, but it was not Brats... And I do not eat sauerkraut