BOTSWANA EARTH QUAKE UPDATE

SOME INJURIES AND STRUCTURAL DAMAGE REPORTED

The Geo sciences Institute will be dispatching a team of investigators to the epicenter of last night’s earthquake to make visual assessments of the place.

Botswana was hit by a 6.5 magnitude earthquake on Monday night at around 7:40 PM. The quake was the second biggest on record in Botswana. The largest quake recorded in the country occurred in 1952 when approximately 5.9 to 6.7 magnitude earthquake hit Maun 70 years ago.

Speaking to News24 to Mpho Ramaselaga, a Geophysicist at the Institute, the team, which will be joined by other Geophysicists and Geoscientists from the neighbouring South Africa, will leave tomorrow morning.

“Our plan is to visit the epicentre where we will make assessments as well as to plant a seismograph there so that we can monitor if this is an active earthquake. If it happens to be an active earthquake, the seismograph will help us monitor it,” Ramaselaga is quoted as saying.

Ramaselaga said they would also seek to interview people from the communities close to the earthquake epicentre to get a clearer view of the incident.

Reports have so far confirmed some minor injuries and structural damages was sustained in areas.

According to reports from the National Disaster Management Office, at least 36 students from Mothamo Junior Secondary School in Moiyabana were affected by the incident, while 10 households from the village suffered some structural defects.

Moiyabana village, which is situated at least 132km west of the quake’s epicentre, was the only village reported to have felt the major brunt of the quake so far.

Of the 36 students affected, 30 were treated at the school; four were treated at the village clinic while two were referred to Sekgoma Memorial Hospital for treatment.

“As the earthquake happened during study time at the said government boarding school, a stampede broke out as everyone tried to escape and minor injuries were experienced. As for the two students who were referred to the hospital, one had sustained glass lacerations after he tried to escape through the window while the other one had his arm dislocated during the stampede,” NDMO Public Relations Officer Tebogo Modiakgotla revealed.

The earthquake was also said to have been felt in the mining town of Jwaneng where the Government Civic Centre building cracked with some damage to property.

USGS issued a green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.

Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though some resistant structures exist.

Selected cities exposed

Map showing earthquakes of magnitude 6.5 and greater that have occurred in Southern Africa since detailed records began (1900 onwards). Credit: USGS, Stephen Hicks, Google

Featured image credit: USGS