On the 3rd of February 2008, an earthquake shook Western Rwanda and the Democratic Repuvlic of Congo. The epicentre of the quake was 20 kilometres east of Bakavu, in east Congo, across the border of Rwanda. This earthquake was the result of the Africa and Somali plates moving apart at an average of 4 millimeters per year. The earthquake was cause by a normal faulting similar to one which created Lake Kivu, a basin near the February 3 earthquake. It was also said that the tremors were felt from as far away as Kenyan Capital Nairobi. This 5.9 magnitude earthquake reportedly left 37 people killed, 643 injured,1201 houses destroyed and 24 buildings damaged in the Cyangugu-Nyamasheke area, Rwanda.One of the damaged buildings in Rwanda include a church killing at least 10 people inside. In Bukavu, 7 people were killed, 447 injured, 1087 houses destroyed and 2378 buildings damaged and there were power outages around about half of the city. One of the worst areas affected is a small but populous island in the middle of Lake Kivu as it was the closest to the epicentre, it had more than 300 houses destroyed.Emergency aid organisations reacted in a short period of time, providing victims with the proper medical care, sanitation assistance and materials for temporary shelters. Geologists also adviced people to remain outdoors and stay away from buildings as there may be aftershocks.
The government reacted quickly as well but as there were many rebuilding necessary in the remote area progress has been very slow with more than 280 families still living in temporary shelters and morale being natural low. Rwanda Aid is planning to work with the Rwandan Government to work on this problem, hoping that this way, more people can be rehoused faster giving them hope.
I think the best way to minimize damage from such events is to tell the country approximately when a natural disaster is going to happen so that the citizens have time to evacuate and get prepared. They should also teach the school going students what to do in emergencies like these and educate the public as well.
Websites :
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/182198,50-magnitude-quake-hits-rwanda-congo-hundreds-injured.html
http://sites.google.com/site/nkombohousingproject/earthquake2008
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2008/us2008mzam/#details
