Mtheto Lungu, AfricaNews reporter in Lilongwe, Malawi
About six people were rushed to hospital and several others rendered homeless when an earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale and about 12 tremors occurrences hit the Northern region district of Karonga from Sunday, Dr. Leonard Kalindekafe, Director for the Malawi Geological Surveys said.
A woman and her child sustained fractures and were rushed to the referral Mzuzu Central Hospital in Mzuzu City some 250 kilometres away from the lakeshore district. The District Commissioner (DC) Gasten Macheka, said the tremors shook the district repeatedly for over 15 times in stretches of 20 or so minutes.
"We have since set up a task force to assess the damage in the district," he said. Houses, brick wall fences and public buildings were damaged.
A group of Samaritans in Lilongwe said they were raising awareness and will conduct a fund-raising musical show to assist the affected and injured.
"We want to hold a musical show in Karonga and raise awareness on the internet and through other media to fund-raise for the victims. We feel government through the Disaster Preparedness department is dilly-dallying," expressed a touched Ken Mwanyongo based in Lilongwe.
He said about MK300, 000 ($2,083) had already been raised and they were hoping more assistance will trickle in from well wishers.
Muzu City experienced three shocks and there were reports more than 30 houses had been damaged in Karonga's neighbouring district of Chitipa. Lying in the Great Rift Valley, geographers told The Daily Times of Tuesday, the area remains prone to earthquakes.
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