Gauteng, South Africa – A 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck Gauteng on Sunday morning, causing minor damages to some properties in the East Rand area. The South African Seismograph Network (SANSN) recorded the tremor, which occurred at approximately 2:38 am local time. Fortunately, no fatalities or injuries have been reported as a result of the seismic event.
The Council for Geoscience (CGS) confirmed that the epicenter of the earthquake was located a few kilometers outside the East Rand Proprietary Mine in Ekurhuleni, specifically in the Boksburg area. While the impact of the earthquake was felt across the province, it was most prominently experienced in the East Rand.
Several residents took to social media to share videos and photos of structural damages to their properties caused by the earthquake. In response, the CGS issued a statement urging the public to record their experiences using an available online questionnaire, providing valuable data for further analysis.
Watch the street lights shake… A powerful 4.5 magnitude tremor has been felt across large parts of Gauteng. Video: Supplied #Tremor #Gauteng #Earthquake @TheCitizen_News https://t.co/FX7q4AI0t1 pic.twitter.com/2XtyVV3LdD
— ?????? ????? (@FaizelPatel143) June 11, 2023The City of Ekurhuleni’s emergency services (EMS) reported that they responded to an incident at the Bedfordview Shopping Centre. A spokesperson for the EMS, William Ntladi, stated that a pub within the shopping center experienced structural damage. The ceiling collapsed, prompting the evacuation of all occupants for safety reasons. Ntladi emphasized the need for structural engineers to conduct inspections before the pub can resume operations.
In addition to the damage at the shopping center, some residents reported window damage in their homes, but there were no other major incidents reported at this stage. The EMS confirmed that no casualties or injuries have been reported as a result of the earthquake.
WATCH: The tremor was felt in several areas including Johannesburg at approxiamately 2:38am early on Sunday morning. Video: Supplied. #Tremor #Earthquake #Boksburg @TheCitizen_News https://t.co/FX7q4AI0t1 pic.twitter.com/XvY2EdMIQO
— ?????? ????? (@FaizelPatel143) June 11, 2023This recent seismic event in Gauteng follows a 3.6 magnitude earthquake that occurred in the Free State province back in March of this year. The Biesiefontein area, approximately 60 kilometers south of Bloemfontein, was the main area affected by the quake. Additionally, KwaZulu-Natal experienced two earthquakes in November 2022, both measuring 3.9 on the magnitude scale, as confirmed by the SANSN.
