Tremor hits Kariba

A MODERATE 3.9 magnitude tremor hit Kariba and surrounding areas on Monday mornin, but there were no reports of any damage recorded.

The tremor has been attributed to the upward or downward variation in water levels in Lake Kariba, with the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) recording a steady rise in water levels over the last two months.

As of June 18, 2020 water levels had risen to 481.22m (40.97 percent of usable storage for power generation) compared to 479.63 (29.12 percent) on the same day in 2019.

Meteorological Services Department’s (MSD) Seismology Section triangulated the epicentre of the tremor which occurred at around 7:11am on longitude 28.581E and latitude -16.678S.

“An earthquake of magnitude 3.9 was felt in Kariba Urban and surrounding areas today on June 22, 2020 at 07:11 local time.

“The determined earthquake parameters show that the earthquake occurred at Latitude -16.678S and Longitude 28.581E. The epicentre is in Kariba Dam and it was widely felt in Kariba urban,” said a report from Met Department.

Several people confirmed feeling the ground shaking and rattling of utensils in the house.

MSD said further investigation to determine the intensity of the earthquake and areas it affected were underway.

The epicentre of the earthquake has been determined to be in Kariba Dam.

“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,” reads a statement from MSD.

“Most of the earthquakes in this region are attributed to the reservoir/dam and they are called reservoir induced earthquakes. The seismic activity arises as a result of the impoundment (confinement of water in a reservoir) of the dam.”

Since the filling of the lake in 1963, seismic activity has been recorded.

This is also compounded by the l ake f alling in t he Mid- Zambezi basin.

According to a ZRA report, lake levels are rising steadily as inflows continue.

“The lake level has continued rising steadily, closing the period under review at 481.22m ( 40.97 percent usable storage) on June 18, 2020. Last year on the same date, the Lake level was at 479.63m (29.12 percent usable storage),” read the report.

Crime Reporter

TWO more people believed to be Malawians have escaped from a quarantine centre at the National Social Security Authority Hotel in Beitbridge after testing positive to Covid-19, bringing the total number of those that have so far escaped to 184 countrywide.

Last week, a Harare man escaped from a quarantine centre at Harare Polytechnic after testing positive to Covid-19 and police have launched a manhunt for all suspects to prevent the spread of the virus.

Police are also looking for another man who escaped from the same centre after the release of results on his Covid19 results.

In a statement, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi appealed to relatives and friends of the escapees to report their whereabouts.

He said the two Malawians escaped on Sunday.

“Two Malawians escaped from NSSA Hotel, Beitbridge after testing positive for the Covid-19 virus. “