Earthquacke hits east africa

The Nation (Nairobi)
December 6, 2005
Posted to the web December 6, 2005


A man watering flowers outside Ken Esiromo was surprised water could not go in the direction he was directing it.

Said the Laikipia East MP: I was talking to the secretary, and all of a sudden, the building started swaying

Former Nairobi mayor Joe Aketch was forced to run out of his office at Utalii House when he realised he had survived. At first I thought I was getting sick. My chair was vibrating like hell, but when I knew what it was, I walked so fast, he said.

The East African Standard (Nairobi)
December 7, 2005
Posted to the web December 6, 2005


On Haile Selassie Avenue, the Times Tower, which houses Central Bank and Kenya Revenue Authority, was evacuated early in the morning after sirens went off following reports that the tremors aftershocks could result in worse damage, even deaths.

City still vulnerable
Experts said Nairobi remains vulnerable to such catastrophes due to its closeness to the epicentre. The city is on Zone D/4, making it more exposed to earth tremors, said Nicodemus Mulwa of APA Insurance.

Mondays quake was the first fatal seismic event in the region since 2002 when Africas deadliest eruption in 25 years swept away thousands of homes and killed 25 people after the 11,380-foot Mt Nyiragongo exploded near the eastern Congo town of Goma.

Business Day (Johannesburg)
December 6, 2005
Posted to the web December 6, 2005


Bonnardeaux said damage was reported in Kabalo, a Congolese town 300km east of Kalemie along the Lukuga River. The desperately poor region has camps for tens of thousands of refugees from wars and economic collapse in Congo and Burundi.

Celestin Kasereka Mahinda, an official at the Goma volcano observatory, said the quake could, however, affect volcanic activity. Gomas Nyiragongo volcano last erupted on January 18 2002, forcing 300000 people to flee and destroying the homes of 120000.

Hirondelle News Agency (Lausanne)
December 5, 2005
Posted to the web December 6, 2005


An earthquake Monday disrupted trials at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).

All trials were then suspended pending further examination by security officials.

The Arusha International Conference Centre which hosts the tribunal was immediately evacuated. No one among the thousands of people who work there was injured.

The trials which were going on before they were interrupted were the Military I (four accused), Butare (six accused), the trial of Andre Rwamakuba and that of Colonel Tharcisse Muvunyi.

AllAfrica.com: City Residents Terrified As Offices Shake
The Nation (Nairobi)
December 6, 2005
Posted to the web December 6, 2005

Fear gripped journalists as they struggled to keep up with JamboTelkom general manager Helen Kinoti, who was winding up a statement on her firms efforts to ensure Internet access for all.

There was only one thing left: To follow the numerous footsteps of people making a hasty exit. No chance to ask questions, except grab the press release, leaving TV cameramen to take care of their equipment.

Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko was in the middle of a meeting in his office at the NSSF Building with World Bank Country Director Colin Bruce. In the middle of the conversation Bruce asked me: Is your building dancing? I said: I also feel so.

The Cooperative House on Haile Selasie Avenue was also jolted by the tremor. I felt my chair move, but I thought it was somebody pushing it. When I looked back, I saw nobody. That is when I realised it was an earth tremor, Mr Norman Mutwiwa said.

BBC


Around 4pm, we were working in the office and witnessed a serious tremor. It continued for 5 minutes. We got panicked. Then the situation become normalised.
Syed, Kampala & Uganda

It woke me up from a nap. The frame for the mosquito netting shook, and seemed to go on for about ten seconds. But my son, who was outside, did not feel it at all, even though we were 90 miles north of the epicentre.
Rebecca Sun, Kigoma, Tanzania

I was with my sister and a few customers here in the internet cafe, and I actually felt my chair rocking. It didn't bother me so much until someone next door came out running, shouting that it was an earthquake, but no body was hurt thank God.
Catherine Muwonge, Uganda, Kampala