Minor quake rattles Sumbawanga

Minor quake rattles Sumbawanga

Some people abandoned their homes and sought refuge in the open The tremor, which was minor, ensued at around 6:11 am and lasted for a few minutes causing pandemonium all round.

Some parents rushed out of their houses leaving their children behind as the kids were still asleep in their beds. A number of residents who were interviewed by the ‘Daily News’ said they were deeply shocked by the earthquake which shook most of the houses.

Some people thought their houses would collapse. However, no damage was registered. A mother of four children who lives at Chanji in the municipality, who wished to remain anonymous, said that she actually fled out of her house in the nude in a quest to save her life.

She confessed to have forgotten about her two-month old baby who was asleep in bed. “I was so terrified that I forgot to pick up my who was asleep in bed. I realized that I was actually naked and that my baby was still in bed when I calmed down and regained my senses.

It also dawned on my that even my other three children were still in bed. Ms Tekla Sikale of Mkoani in the municipality said she was shocked to the extreme by the earthquake. She said she was feeding her chicken in their pens when, suddenly everything arround her began to rattle violently.

She also noticed frightened birds fleeing. Similarly, residents of Matai Township as well as those in Kasanga Village along Lake Tanganyika shoreline in Kalambo District confirmed being terrified by the earthquake. According to them they initially heard their animals, including cows, goats and sheep, running around mooing and bleating in terror.

The residents also noticed the rattling of landed installations including houses. When contacted for coment, the acting Rukwa Regional Police Commander (RPC), Mr Peter Ngusa, confirmed that an earthquake had hit the region, but added that no casualties or damage to property had been reported.