Earthquake hits Klerksdorp
2005-03-09 13:30
Johannesburg - An earth tremor preliminary measuring five on the Richter Scale is believed to have struck South Africa on Wednesday with its epicentre believed to be around Klerksdorp.
Ian Saunders, project leader of the South African national seismograph network at the department of geosciences in Pretoria said such a measure was "quite serious" for South Africa, which is an aseismic country.
"It's rather early to say anything," said Saunders.
Saunders said the largest earthquake to have hit South Africa - in Ceres in the Western Cape in 1969 - had measured 6.1 on the Richter Scale.
It is not yet known whether the Klerksdorp quake was related to mining or due to natural causes.
Klerksdorp Emergency Services said that personnel had rushed out to nearby Stilfontein. They had received reports of damaged houses and flats and one injury.
- SAPA