“No major earthquake on the cards for Joburg”

 

The Head of the Archaeology and Geography at Wits University, Professor Gillian Drennan, says she doesn’t believe that South Africans should be worried about a major earthquake occurring in Johannesburg.

On Wednesday night, residents of the south and west of Joburg experienced a 2.7 magnitude tremor around 10 in the evening.

Drennan has told YNews that the tremor could have been a result of the earth readjusting itself.

 

Joburg emergency services officials say they are on high alert and contingency plans have been put in place to respond to any eventuality.

“The Council for Geosciences has confirmed that the magnitude of the earth tremor is reported to be around 2.7 and at this stage, there are no major incidents which have been reported, mostly in Roodepoort, Soweto and surrounding areas,” says Johannesburg EMS spokesperson, Robert Mulaudzi.

There have been a number of tremors in recent months – with the largest one recorded in June, which measured 4.4 on the richter scale and was felt across many parts of Gauteng, but mostly in Boksburg.

The latest tremor is the fourth seismic event in the last two months.

The South African National Seismograph Network says seismologists are analysing the data on it.

Meanwhile social media also reacted to the tremor: 

Roodepoort, Soweto and parts of southern Johannesburg experienced another #tremor / #earthquake. These things seem to be happening more often 👀

— Ulrich Janse van Vuuren (@UlrichJvV) August 30, 2023

When the westrand stood against zama zama last year this was one of the reasons. I am convinced that we still have a long way to go with this #earthquake #tremor

— Mpho (@Mofirephopho) August 31, 2023