Presbyterian Church in Ireland - Mission Overseas - MALAWI: Earthquakes strike Karonga District

8th December 2009

The Karonga District of Northern Malawi has suffered a series of earthquakes and associated aftershocks in the past three days, causing widespread damage to buildings, injury to people and a number of fatalities.

The first quake struck on Sunday evening with a further larger quake early this morning.

Diane Cusick, who lives in Mzuzu almost 100 miles south of Karonga (the equivalent distance between Belfast and Dublin), reported on Monday of this week: “Last night, as I was working on my computer, suddenly the earth was moving literally! There have been four earthquakes in Karonga District..., and even here we had some quite strong tremors - all the dishes in my dresser... were shaking like crazy! The largest earthquake was 5.8 [on the Richter Scale], so I am hoping that not too many people in Karonga have been hurt and that there is not too much damage.”

Today, Diane said: “This morning just before 6 am my house was once again shaking but this time the intensity was greater, so immediately I went onto the internet to find out what had caused it.  It was another earthquake at Karonga, this time of a magnitude of 5.9.”

There is evidently much damage in the Karonga area. In Kasowa village, many houses are completely wrecked but the pre-school is still standing.

People are terrified by what has happened and many are so shocked they don’t know what to do. Some can only weep in despair, while others need to find somewhere safe to sleep.

Reports are confused but it appears that there have been at least two fatalities, one a baby; while a number of people have been admitted to hospital for treatment to injuries suffered a result of the earthquakes.

Please pray for the Church in Karonga and everyone who has been so badly affected. People are thanking God that the rains have not yet come to Karonga District, as this would undoubtedly have made matters very much worse.

See BBC Report