Minor earthquake hits Zim

Zim Now Writer

A minor earthquake hit the western parts of Zimbabwe Lubimbi area in Binga on Sunday night and was felt by residents in Hwange.

An earthquake of magnitude of 4.0 hit the western parts of Zimbabwe and caused no recorded damage.

“An earthquake was felt in Hwange and Binga on March 5, 2023, at 2309hrs local time. The epicentre is in Binga, Lubimbi area near Kamativi,” said Matabeleland North Province chief meteorological officer Austin Masikinye.

He said further inquiries would be made to determine the earthquake’s intensity in the locality and to determine the exact areas it was felt.

Hwange town residents reported being shaken by underground movements on Sunday night just after 10 PM.

Hwange Local Board spokesperson Dumisani Nsingo, who stays in Empumalanga, said:

MSD head of forecasting, James Ngoma said earth tremors are common in the Kariba area but the 4.0 mark is not usual.

“Kariba is in a seismic tremor area, so now and again earthquakes are recorded. Those below 2.5 on the Richter scale may not be felt by humans but our machines regularly pick on those.

“Earthquakes of between 2.5 and 4.5 on the scale are usually felt but we consider them to be minor and cannot cause damage. Anything above that is of concern.”