AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER
A major earthquake, which registered 6.1 on the Richter scale struck offshore from South Africa, releasing energy equivalent to 1.9 atomic bombs, experts said.
The earthquake took place 1600 km from Cape Town coast, at the depth of 10km, sparking fears of a tsunami. There were, however, no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
Some residents of the southern city of Cape Town took to social media and the internet to share their experience of the tremor, which the USGS said occurred at 19h10, South African time.
“Guys, we just felt a tremor in Cape Town. Our house shook, the ground shook and rumbled, there was a faint rumbling sound. It all lasted 5 seconds,” one resident wrote on Twitter.
Several residents posted their responses on the Volcano Discovery website.
These are some of the reactions:
- Brackenfell, Cape Town: “Never felt something like this before. Sitting on the couch, sounded like an industrial aircon being turned on. Clearly felt vibrations for a xouple of seconds.”
- Richwood, Cape town: “Very weak shaking, rattling, vibration: Initially it sounded like something fell, then I heard a vibration coming from one direction, followed by the feeling of vibrations and the windows, doors and roof rattling for a short time as it passed by.”
- Parklands, Cape Town: “Moderate shaking, vibration and rolling. Laying on the couch reading, and suddenly felt a strong rumbling and the whole house started shaking. Doors, windows and roof rattled.”
- Richwood, Cape Town: Very weak shaking, rattling, vibrating. Initially, it sounded like something fell, I heard a vibration coming from one direction, followed by the feeling of vibrations and the windows, doors and roof rattling for a short time as it passed by.”
- Bloubergstrand, Cape Town: “Heard a vibration and then felt a heavier vibration rolling through the ground beneath my house. Everything rattling.”
