THE tremor that hit Swaziland on Sunday night went as far as South Africa, as it was felt in some parts of the neighbouring country. According to Allafrica.com the earth shake in Swaziland resulted in earth tremors being felt in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. The tremor was reported to have taken place at around 9pm on Sunday night. It measured four on the Richter scale. It is said residents in Newcastle, Ladysmith, Dundee, Mkuze, Piet Retief, and Pongola felt the tremor. Aftershocks were also reportedly felt in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands. Residents are quoted saying that their houses and windows started suddenly rattling at 9pm. It only lasted a few seconds.
The Sunday tremor that was experienced throughout the country was only natural. Director of Geology Simon Mhlanga said it was not an earthquake but a tremor which was something minor. The epicentre of the tremor was at Maguga dam which might be due to the water load on the rocks. He said preliminary reports from the South Africa Council for Geo-Science showed that the tremor occurred at latitude of -26.075, longitude 31.248 at a magnitude of 4.0 on Richter scale. The adjusting of rocks was bound to happen as the rocks around and in the dam had been strained over time due to the water load. Maguga dam’s capacity is at 332 000 000m3 which amounts to 332 million tonnes. The geology department could not have been able to detect the tremor. By Swaziland standards it was big as it usually hit below 3.0. The director said anything that was beyond 6.0 on the Richter scale was fully fledged earthquake that could have devastating effects. He said Swaziland did not have a history of earthquakes but tremors were likely but will not be on a regular basis. Swaziland is seated on stable kaapvaal craton of the continent so earthquakes were unlikely.
- RSOE Edis
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