30 April 2008
Windhoek — Two earthquakes - less than two hours apart - rocked Omaruru on Saturday.
The first earthquake, at about 15h50, measured 5,6 on the Richter Scale and the epicentre was 50 kilometres east of Omaruru, according to the Directorate of Geological Survey.
A milder aftershock occurred a while later.
Senior geophysicist Manfred Muundjua told Nampa that the earthquake was 10 kilometres below the surface.
"We have established that the epicentre of the earthquake is located on a major geological feature called the Aretarages lineament.
This particular lineament starts west of Windhoek and ends at the Waterberg thrust," he explained.
Muundjua said a magnitude of 5,6 was quite substantial and should arouse interest in the scientific community, particularly if future events within the area produce earthquakes of similar magnitude.
No injuries or damages were reported.
Earth tremors are occasionally felt in Namibia, but the country has not experienced a major quake.
Areas with geological faults that have recorded seismic events are Opuwo, Windhoek, Waterberg, Khorixas and Bethanie.
Nampa
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