AN earthquake measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale hit the Midlands province in central Zimbabwe yesterday morning, South Africa’s Council for Geoscience (CGS) said yesterday.
The earthquake, described as being of moderate magnitude,
hit 15km southwest of Gweru at 5:15am local time.
“The quake hit a shallow depth of 10km beneath the
epicentre near Gweru, Midlands province, Zimbabwe, early yesterday morning,”
CGS reported.
“The exact magnitude, epicentre and depth of the quake
might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review
data and refine their calculations or as other agencies issue their reports.
“Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake may not
have caused any significant damage, but was probably felt by many people as a
light vibration in the area of the epicentre.”
According to the report, the tremors were felt in Gweru,
Shurugwi, Lalapanzi, Redcliff, Kwekwe and Zvishavane, all of the Midlands.
The last earthquake to be recorded in the country occurred
on January 25 this year, which measured 3.2 on the Richter scale and its
epicentre was 19km northwest of Bulawayo, but was reported to had been felt as
far as Francistown in Botswana.
In June last year, CGS reported an earthquake of similar
magnitude and depth near the Midlands capital.
There were, however, no casualties or damage to property
caused by the earthquake.
The biggest quake was recorded in the country 16 years ago
in Chipinge, which had magnitude of 7.0 and a depth of 11km. Newsday
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