Light earthquake hits Uganda, Kenya, Congo
DOUBLE earth tremors shook most parts of the country yesterday, forcing some people to flee their houses.
By Fred Ouma, Emmanuel Kajubu & Ismael Kasooha
DOUBLE earth tremors shook most parts of the country yesterday, forcing some people to flee their houses.
The early morning earthquakes measured 5.2 and 4.0 points respectively on the Richter scale.
The first and powerful tremor occurred at about 5:30am, lasting over five minutes while the weaker one followed 10 minutes later lasting at least three minutes.
The earth-shaking waves, described by experts as a “weak earth vibration and not big enough to cause panicâ€, was also felt in Kenya and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. It had its epicentre (area of origin) around the shores of Lake George.
There were no reports of casualties or damage by yesterday.
Preliminary assessments in Fort Portal town, however, showed that some houses had developed cracks.
“We are yet to establish the degree of destruction,†said an official from the geological survey and mines department at Entebbe, who did not what to be named.
Residents in Kabarole and the surrounding districts, however, experienced less shock as compared to their counterparts in the eastern and central regions.
In Kampala, frightened residents abandoned their houses to safety.
“I woke up everybody in the house and ran out fearing that the building may collapse,†said Nathan Mugerwa of Bugolobi Flats in Kampala.
Solome Karuhanga of Mbarara said: “I got hold of my bed thinking somebody was taking it with me.â€
While many people thought they were dreaming, some thought they had been attacked by demons or robbers.
In 1994, a powerful earthquake rocked mainly Bundibugyo and Kabarole districts and caused widespread damage to property, including Virika Cathedral Church near Fort Portal town.
DOUBLE earth tremors shook most parts of the country yesterday, forcing some people to flee their houses.
The early morning earthquakes measured 5.2 and 4.0 points respectively on the Richter scale.
The first and powerful tremor occurred at about 5:30am, lasting over five minutes while the weaker one followed 10 minutes later lasting at least three minutes.
The earth-shaking waves, described by experts as a “weak earth vibration and not big enough to cause panicâ€, was also felt in Kenya and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. It had its epicentre (area of origin) around the shores of Lake George.
There were no reports of casualties or damage by yesterday.
Preliminary assessments in Fort Portal town, however, showed that some houses had developed cracks.
“We are yet to establish the degree of destruction,†said an official from the geological survey and mines department at Entebbe, who did not what to be named.
Residents in Kabarole and the surrounding districts, however, experienced less shock as compared to their counterparts in the eastern and central regions.
In Kampala, frightened residents abandoned their houses to safety.
“I woke up everybody in the house and ran out fearing that the building may collapse,†said Nathan Mugerwa of Bugolobi Flats in Kampala.
Solome Karuhanga of Mbarara said: “I got hold of my bed thinking somebody was taking it with me.â€
While many people thought they were dreaming, some thought they had been attacked by demons or robbers.
In 1994, a powerful earthquake rocked mainly Bundibugyo and Kabarole districts and caused widespread damage to property, including Virika Cathedral Church near Fort Portal town.