The ManicaPost
Ray Bande in Mutare and Luthando Mapepa in Chipinge
AN earthquake was felt in Chipinge, Chimanimani and surrounding areas today at 0650am with magnitude
determined to be 4.1.
In a statement, the Metorological Services Department (MSD) wrote: “Preliminary location shows that the earthquake occurred at Latitude -20.128 S and Longitude 34.333 E.The epicentre is in Mozambique but it was widely felt in Chipinge and Chimanimani.”
A number of people in the eastern border town of Chipinge and the resort area of Chimanimani took to social media platforms WhatsApp and Facrbook confirming having felt the earthquake.
MSD Chief Meteorological Officer Mr Lukas Tauya Murambi also received some reports from people
who felt the earthquake in Chimanimani.
“No reports of damage were received however more enquires would be made to determine its intensity in the locality and to determine the exact areas it was felt.
Of late, the Zimbabwe-Mozambique eastern border area have bern showing high earthquake activity,” he said.
In its statement, tha MSD noted that most of the earthquakes that occur in this region are due to natural plate tectonics and this is attributed to the East African Rift System (EARS) which extends into Mozambique.
Manicaland is a seismically active region, evidenced by the many moderate to large earthquakes occurring each year.
The latest earthquake comes barely two months after another one hit the district.
Mrs Lydia Masengu Chipinge, the Chipinge District Meteorological officer said a number of people felt todays earthquake in Chipinge, in areas close to the border with Mozambique (Beacon Hill, Mt Selinda and Espungabeira).
