10 Aug 2014

As a precautionary measure it is advisable to drop to the floor against an interior wall and stay indoors whenever there is an earthquake.

Acting chief geophycist with the Department of Geological Survey in Lobatse, Mr Tarzan Kwadiba said, “you are less likely to be injured by staying where you are".

This advice followed reports of an earth tremor that caused panic and fear in some parts of Botswana recently, where people evacuated offices due to the earth shaking.

Mr Kwadiba said it was advisable not to go outside but rather remain indoors until the shaking was over and also avoid standing by hanging objects, tall furniture or large appliances. When in bed, Mr Kwadiba advised that people should hold on and stay in bed, protecting one’s head with a pillow.

When outdoor, he advised that people should move to a clear area for safety away from buildings, power lines, trees, and other hazards and to always assume that fallen power lines were live

He said windows, facades, and architectural details are often the first parts of a building to collapse during an earthquake and therefore important to move away from the danger zones. 

When driving, Mr Kwadiba said one should safely pull over to the side of the road, stop, and stay inside the vehicle until the shaking is over.

He recommended that when in a public place like a stadium, individuals should stay on their seats and protect the head and neck with arms.

“Don’t try to leave until the shaking is over, then exit slowly, avoiding debris and watching for anything that could fall in aftershocks,” he said.

An earth tremor of an estimated magnitude of 5.5 on the Richter scale originated in the Orkney region of South Africa was recorded on Tuesday at 12:22 hours.

The shaking which was felt in Lobatse took two minutes from the origin of the quake as it was recorded to have been felt at 12:24 hours.

Mr Kwadiba said the quake covered an estimated location of 26.9346 degrees south latitude and 26.8092 east longitude resulting in the shakes being felt in Botswana’s Gaborone, Lobatse, Mmathethe and Jwaneng areas.

He attributed the cause of the earth tremor to mining induced activities as Orkney is a mining infested area.

In Botswana, he said there had been recordings of earth tremors in the Okavango Delta as the place is cynically due to tectonic movement associated with the East African rift system. ENDS