Earthquake strikes western shore of Lake Victoria, with tremors felt as far away as western Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.
At least 13 people have been killed and 203 injured in north-west Tanzania in a 5.7 magnitude earthquake, local authorities said.
“The toll has climbed from 11 people dead to 13 and from 192 injured to 203,” said Deodatus Kinawilo, district commissioner for Bukoba, the town close to the epicentre of the quake that struck on Saturday.
“For now, the situation is calm and under control,” said Kinawilo, who was reached by telephone. “Some people have been discharged from hospital. We don’t expect many more injuries. We’ll see tomorrow.”
Damage from near the epicentre of today’s 5.7 magnitude earthquake in Tanzania pic.twitter.com/53qS2FQlVl
— NTV UGANDA (@ntvuganda) September 10, 2016
No damage had been reported in the economic capital, Dar es Salaam, which is located about 1,400km south-east of Bukoba. “It’s safe in Dar but we are still worried about the safety of our family,” the AFP correspondent added. “The regional hospital is overwhelmed and can’t handle any more patients.Emergency operations are poor and the government isn’t saying anything,” he said.
The epicentre of the quake was about 15 miles (25km) east of the north-western town of Nsunga on the border of Lake Victoria, according to the US Geological Survey.
The quake was felt as far away as western Kenya and parts of Uganda, which share the waters of Lake Victoria. Tremors were also felt in Kigali, Rwanda.
A statement from the Tanzanian president’s office said that he was “shocked by reports of the earthquake that caused the death of many people, injury to others and destruction of property.”
The statement didn’t provide specific figures on casualties.
Earthquakes are fairly common in the Great Lakes region but are almost always of low intensity.
Earthquake measuring 5.7 hit Tanzania. A least 10 killed, 100+ wounded. Also felt in Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda & Kenya pic.twitter.com/DDPhlxFnl9
— Live From Mogadishu (@Daudoo) September 10, 2016