Earthquake hits Uganda, shakes buildings
Monitor journalists rushed out of the building during an earthquake that lasted a few seconds. Photo by Abubaker Lubowa.
Kampala. Different parts of the country have this afternoon experienced an earthquake measuring 5.7 on the richter scale.
Ugandans took to social media to share their experiences of the earthquake that is reported to have shaken different parts of the country including Kampala city.
Monitor journalists rushed out of the building during an earthquake that lasted a few seconds. Photo by Abubaker Lubowa.
Some posted photos of people running out of shopping malls following the incident that lasted a few seconds. Unsure about what was happening as the office building shook, Monitor journalists rushed out into the parking yard. In Jinja town, it is reported residents and the business communities ran out of their premises for safety during the tremor that occurred at around 3:30pm. Trees and parked vehicles were seen shaking and flowers falling from top buildings.
One of the eyewitnesses, Mr David Kimuli, a hawker who the earthquake found resting on one of the streets, said he saw his items moving and others shaking, producing sound.
The epicentre of earthquake was in north west Tanzania, according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), which provides real time earthquake information.
In Uganda, the earthquake was, according to EMSC, most felt in central and the southern parts of the country. It was also felt in neighbouring Rwanda.
It was reported to have shaken parts of western Kenya including Bungoma, Busia and Kitale. The earthquake happened across the world.
In Soroti Town, at Ekobu’s Storage Building which houses Daily Monitor offices, people were seen scampering for safety.Those at the upper floor, struggled to exit.Mothers working on the ground floor, carried their young ones on their shoulders.
“I thought it was earth-moving machine, but as it persisted, I followed the running colleagues,” Ms Eve Adulai said.
Mr Sam Ekadu, a resident of Soroti Town told Daily Monitor he ran out of his house when he heard the windows and iron sheets make noise as the ground shook. No cases of damage or death have been registered.
Additional reporting by DENIS EDEMA, SIMON PETER EMWAMU
