OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Tanzania - Earthquake
2 October 2000


Situation

1.  A powerful earthquake occurred around the Kipili peninsula of Lake
Tanganyika in the Rukwa region, some 960 km west of the capital, Dar Es
Salaam, Tanzania on Monday, 2 October at 5:25 hours local time (02:25
GMT). According to the United States Geological Survey and the Swiss
Seismological Service, the earthquake measured 6.6 on the Richter scale.
The preliminary report shows that the epicentre was situated at latitude
7.9 degrees south and longitude 30.5 degrees east.

2.  The affected areas are lightly populated with little infrastructure.
According to UNDP Tanzania, neither casualties nor major damages, except
cracks in the buildings in the town of Sumbawanga, the capital of the
Rukwa region, have been reported.  At Kigoma, the city close to the border
with Burundi, the earthquake was not felt, UNDP Tanzania reported.


National and International response

3.  No request for international assistance has been received by OCHA to
date.

4.  The Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Dar Es Salaam is
monitoring the situation and gathering further information. OCHA is in
close contact with the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator and will
revert with further information if the situation warrants it.

5.  This situation report, together with further information on ongoing
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int


Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
  Mr. K. Wiersing / Ms. Y. Sawada
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 2270 / 1768

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
  (NYC)  Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32


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