BLANTYRE — A one-year-old boy was killed and 12 people were injured Tuesday as a series of moderate earthquakes struck Malawi and Tanzania, collapsing homes in a region near a new uranium mine, officials said.
"The strongest earthquake was recorded early Tuesday and its magnitude was 5.9 on the Richter scale," said Leonard Kalindekafe, director of the Malawi Geological Survey.
At least 12 tremors ranging between 4.8 and 5.1 have hit the northern Karonga district since Sunday morning, he said.
The district is home to the uranium mine opened in April by Australian company Paladin.
Police spokesman Enock Levason said the boy died after a kitchen collapsed on him. About 12 others were also injured Tuesday in collapsing buildings or as they tried to flee their homes, he added.
Karonga district commissioner Gasten Macheka said the government had set up a task force to assess the damage.
Levason said six people were admitted to a nearby hospital and the rest were treated for minor injuries.
He said villagers were living in fear after the tremors shook the district over 15 times.
"We have abandoned our houses to sleep in the open for fear of buildings collapsing on us," Richard Tembo told AFP by telephone, adding that his house had developed cracks in the walls.
Tremors also hit neighbouring Tanzania, sowing panic but causing no reported damage or casualties.
"So far there is no report of death, injury or damage of houses on the Tanzanian side, but there is a lot of panic," said Anicent Minde of the Tanzania Geological Centre.
He said the quakes ranged between 4.8 and 5.9 and urged residents to stay outdoors during the quakes.
Source:http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h2tkRYOapLWmqWnaXRNNj4D3GiSQ
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