Confusion and pandemonium broke out in Mpanda township in Katavi Region, following earth tremors that struck shortly after mid night in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The tremor took many by surprise while fast asleep, such that some proved disoriented running out of their houses half-dressed leaving children in the houses crying for help. The tremor, which was minor, ensued at around 1.15am and lasted a few seconds.
A few residents who were interviewed by the ‘Sunday News,’ said they were taken unawares by the earth tremor that shook their houses to the foundation, leaving cracks on walls. Some feared that their houses would collapse on them and rushed to seek refuge outside the house.
However, no loss of life or property was reported. A mother of six children who lives at Majengo ‘B’ area in Mpanda Township, Francesca Sikazwe said she fled out of her house half-asleep as she does not remember how she opened the door leaving behind every item of her property.
She confessed to have forgotten about her new baby boy who was sound asleep. The baby was born on Christmas eve.
“I was so terrified as I was fast asleep suddenly I woke up and found my bed was shaking vigorously. I ran out even forgetting all about my own children including the youngest born three weeks ago.
It was quite terrifying,” she recalled. Mr Walter Malki of Majengo ‘A’ in Mpanda said he will never forget the rattling of cooking utensils and the shaking of his bed that made him run out of the house half dressed.
“I only had a piece of cloth on me. I did not realise this until the moment I regained my senses some minutes later.
I heard my neighbours shouting to indicate that they were equally frightened,” Malki explained. Similarly, residents of Karema and Sibwesa villages along Lake Tanganyika shoreline in Mpanda District confirmed experiencing the earth tremor.
According to them they had heard their animals, including cows, goats and sheep, running around mooing and bleating in terror.
When contacted for comments, the Katavi Regional Police Commander (RPC), Mr Dhahiri Kidavashari , confirmed the reports, saying that the region had registered earth tremors on the early hours of Thursday, adding that no casualties or damage of property was reported.
By PETI SIYAME, Tanzania Daily News
