World

Malawi latest earthquake kills 3

by everchanging | December 20, 2009 at 11:35 am

1437 views | 33 Recommendations | 8 comments

Malawi struck by series of earthquakes with reports of relocating 200,000 in the latest quake of 6.0 Magnitude, killing 3 and injured over 200. Malawi was and is currently in the process of relocating over 4,000 people (via: Dref) from the earlier earthquakes (from December 6th to December 12th) Ranging from 4.6 to 5.9 in Magnitude. These earthquakes severity and frequencies have caused great concern because of the regions location, “Water has now started immerging from the cracks and no place within the area seems safe, this is a rift valley close to the lake and there could be flooding shortly,” District Commissioner for Kalonga Gaston Mcheka said.

Related info regarding relief work:

International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund “DREF” (12.14.2009)

Act International (12.16.2009) Alert – Earthquake and Cyclone alert

Malawi Earthquakes history (12.2009):

Magnitude 6.0 - MALAWI. 2009 December 19 23:19:17 UTC

Magnitude 5.4 - MALAWI. 2009 December 12 02:27:03 UTC

Magnitude 4.6 - MALAWI. 2009 December 11 20:06:24 UTC

Magnitude 5.0 - MALAWI. 2009 December 11 04:49:09 UTC

Magnitude 5.9 - MALAWI. 2009 December 08 03:08:57 UTC

Magnitude 5.0 - MALAWI. 2009 December 07 09:31:44 UTC

Magnitude 4.8 - MALAWI. 2009 December 07 03:35:40 UTC.

Magnitude 5.8 - MALAWI. 2009 December 06 19:36:35 UTC

Magnitude 5.2 - MALAWI. 2009 December 06 18:29:13 UTC

Magnitude 5.1 - MALAWI. 2009 December 06 18:00:01 UTC

Magnitude 5.1 - MALAWI. 2009 December 06 17:58:14 UTC

1 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Rhonda J Mangus

at 18:45 on December 20th, 2009

Thanks for this, everchanging. Some additional information:

The quake struck the southeast African country at 1:19 a.m., and the victims included students who were sleeping in a dormitory at a government school, said Gasten Macheka, the commissioner of Karonga district.

Macheka said about 270,000 people have been urged to leave their homes for their safety, and that the hard-hit district in northern Malawi urgently needs at least 48,000 tents and medical supplies.

"This is a crisis," he said. "We are asking everyone in Karonga not to be in houses or near houses because the situation is unstable. We are appealing to the government and the international community to help us as a matter of urgency."

Macheka said at least three people were killed and 200 injured. Many of the victims were treated for injuries such as broken bones and skin lacerations at Karonga District Hospital, but dozens of others were hospitalized there or evacuated to a hospital in Mzuzu city, about 140 miles (230 kilometers) from the epicenter, he said.

everchanging

at 20:59 on December 20th, 2009

Rhonda, Thank you for the update.

"Two people have died, a 4-year-old child and his grandmother after the house they were sleeping in collapsed on them," police spokesman Enock Livasoni told Reuters.

Source: iol.co.za

The people in this area of Malawi reside in houses made of blocks and mud with thatch roofs, from the photo I've posted there is no foundation or wall re-enforcements at all in the houses.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 22:19 on December 20th, 2009

You are very welcome, everchanging. Thank you for the update. It really is a tragic situation.

everchanging

at 23:43 on December 20th, 2009

Here is a housing report from 2002 regarding some homes built in Malawi by the world housing along with Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) and International Association for Earthquake Engineering (IAEE)

This explains the reason "Gasten Macheka, (the commissioner of Karonga district) stated about 270,000 people have been urged to leave their homes for their safety, and that the hard-hit district in northern Malawi urgently needs at least 48,000 tents and medical supplies." source: www.democratherald.com

Heila Viljoen (not verified)

at 20:26 on December 20th, 2009

Pray that all will be safe and that enough help will be given to those in need. God bless

adam.okhai (not verified)

at 12:16 on December 21st, 2009

Can anyone advise location of epicentre (last quake, which appears to hv been the worst in the Dec 09 series) . ALSO: one report by fox says 200,000 people need to relocate ; another report (bbc.com) refers to 200 to 400 people (4 deaths, including one baby) . Anyone know the (more reliable) approx. numbers ? THANK YOU! Leila Simone for: Adam Okhai, La Groupe TLC

everchanging

at 16:27 on December 21st, 2009

Google map of epiccentre (last quake).

The relocation of people within the region are said to be 270,000 - 300 injured and 3 conformed dead.

~ ~ ~

"Gasten Macheka, commissioner for the district which borders Tanzania, said the three dead included a child crushed by falling bricks, and two adults. Eighty-one people have been admitted to the district hospital."

"Over 200 000 people have been urged to evacuate their homes in the district, which lies in the earthquake-prone East African Rift Valley. This stretches?from the Red Sea through Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Mozambique."

Source: www.iol.ca.za

adam.okhai (not verified)

at 06:55 on December 23rd, 2009

Dear everchanging : Thank you v-much for the link and for the updated info. Much appreciated. Re-locating one quarter up to a third million people must be a complex logistical nightmare. I hope the hospital is getting additional temp. med., health professionals. I see that the Malawi authorities hv put the word internationally asking for specific needs of hurt and displaced families. Some of us here (NCarolina) are putting together a brief one pager that shd go out today to other some smaller organizations. Altho the latter are not as well known , we trust that some if not most of them will shake loose some funds to aid residents repair or re-build homes and businesses. Our thoughts, hearts and minds are with the many residents of the area. adam.okhai