By Spy Uganda Correspondent
A magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Gisenyi, Western Province, Rwanda, was reported only 19 minutes ago by the United States Geological Survey, considered one of the key international agencies that monitor seismic activity worldwide.
The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 km beneath the epicentre after midnight on Monday 24 May 2021 at 12:52 am local time. The exact magnitude, epicentre, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report.
A second report was later issued by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), which listed it as a magnitude 4.2 earthquake as well.
Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake should not have caused any significant damage but was probably felt by many people as light vibration in the area of the epicenter.
Weak shaking might have been felt in Gisenyi (pop. 83,600) located 16 km from the epicenter, Goma (pop. 144,100) 18 km away, Ruhengeri (pop. 86,700) 32 km away, and Sake (pop. 17,200) 39 km away.
Other towns or cities near the epicenter where the quake might have been felt as very weak shaking include Gitarama (pop. 87,600) located 63 km from the epicenter, Kigali (pop. 745,300) 82 km away, and Nzega (pop. 33,800) 95 km away.
