5.3 Magnitude earthquake strikes western Uganda
- Written by OUR REPORTER & URN
An earth with a Magnitude of 5.3 and a depth of 10km struck southwestern Uganda at 10:02:29am (EAT) today, Sunday.
According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake had its epicentre at Kilembe in Kasese district around Lake Edward region.
According to various online reports sent to The Observer, the earth shake was also felt in Central (Entebbe, Wakiso, Kampala) and Eastern regions (Mbale, Jinja). More online reports indicate that the earthquake was also felt in Rwanda, DR Congo and Tanzania.
No damages or casualties were recorded as a result of the tremor. However, some residents were forced to flee their houses. Moses Atugonza, a resident of Kagote in Kabarole district says that he had to wait outside his house for about five minutes until the shaking stopped.
At St. Mark Church in Kilembe, the 10:00am service was interrupted. Rev Sam Kule who was the preacher was forced to halt the sermon for five minutes as some Christians fled the church.
On February 6, 1994, a 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit Kabarole district killing eight people and destroying numerous buildings. The epicentre was in Kisomoro sub-county.
The most powerful earthquake recorded in Uganda occurred on March 20, 1966 in Tooro leaving at least 157 people dead. The tremor with a magnitude of 6.8 and a depth of 36 km lasted 3-5 minutes and hit areas near the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.