News Release
Magnitude 7.0 MOZAMBIQUE
Wednesday, February 22, 2006 at 22:19:07 UTC
The following is a revised REPEAT revised release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: A major earthquake occurred IN MOZAMBIQUE, about 220 km (140 miles) SW of Beira or about 530 km (330 miles) N of MAPUTO at 3:19 PM MST, Feb 22, 2006 (Feb 23 at 12:19 AM local time in Mozambique). The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available. No reports of damage or casualties have been received at this time; however, this earthquake may have caused damage due to its location and size. This is believed to be the largest earthquake on record in this general area. This revision of the magnitude is based on additional data. The preliminary mechanism for this earthquake is normal faulting.
One person killed at Espungabera, one killed at Machaze and 2 killed at Beira. Twenty-seven people injured and at least 160 buildings damaged in the Espungabera-Beira-Chimoio area. Power outages occurred at Maputo. Felt (V) at Beira, Inhambane and Maputo; (IV) at Matola. Felt (IV) at Harare and Mutare, Zimbabwe. Also felt (IV) at Louis Trichardt and Phalaborwa; (III) at Durban and Middelburg; (II) at Johannesburg and Pretoria, South Africa. Felt throughout Mozambique and eastern Zimbabwe. Felt in Swaziland and at Lobatse, Botswana and Lusaka, Zambia.
Preliminary Earthquake Report
U.S. Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center
World Data Center for Seismology, Denver
