Magnitude 5.0 Earthquake Rattles Johannesburg, South Africa
In the early hours of Sunday, June 11th, 2023, a significant earthquake measuring a preliminary magnitude of 5.0 struck Johannesburg, the bustling commercial hub of South Africa.
Seismologists and residents alike reported feeling the intense shaking, which reverberated throughout the city and certain surrounding areas.
One reader of The NewsHawks shared his harrowing experience, describing the frightening seismic movements he felt while asleep during the early morning hours. The earthquake occurred precisely at 2:38am.
#Earthquake This was Benoni on the East Rand. pic.twitter.com/V6W30FbagO
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) June 11, 2023
The epicenter was located just six kilometers south of Alberton, situated on the southern part of the East Rand in Gauteng Province.
It was approximately 16 kilometers southeast of central Johannesburg, as confirmed by seismologists. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake initially registered a magnitude of 5.0. It was classified as a shallow earthquake, occurring at a depth of about 10 kilometers.
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This shallow depth is noteworthy due to the presence of extensive underground gold mining activities and abandoned mines in the area.
A witness recounted the tremor lasting between 30 seconds to a minute, during which seismic movements were perceptible. “The shaking belly of the earth jolted me from my sleep,” shared a reader of The NewsHawks, highlighting the intensity of the earthquake’s impact.
Melville, JHB. Think the time on my camera is set incorrectly though #earthquake pic.twitter.com/gf7gDnAd2w
— Merav Edout (@meravedout) June 11, 2023
This recent earthquake marks the strongest tremor experienced in the Johannesburg area since March 2019 when a 4.9-magnitude earthquake occurred near Soweto, a southwestern district of the city.
Additionally, in 2017, a 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck near Stilfontein, a former mining town situated between Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom in the North West Province.
