The earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.0 and its epicenter in Democratic Republic of Congo happened at 0735 GMT. The earthquake occurred near Lake Kivu, 20km from Bukavu and struck close to Africa's great lakes region along the western Great Rift Valley fault line. It has probably occurred due to the normal faulting or the strike-slip faulting.
Many of people were wounded after the earthquake, mostly with fractured arms or legs. Several dozen of injured people were admitted into the city’s general hospital and at least 12 casualties to the Panzi hospital, medical sources said.
People ran out of churches packed for the usual Sunday mass as the walls shook. In the DR Congo town of Kabare, north of Bukavu, the walls of a church collapsed on the congregation during the mass, injuring around thirty-seven people, including five seriously, priest Leon Shamavu informed the media.
Local authorities in DR Congo said six people had died in the Sud-Kivu region, according to UN-sponsored Okapi radio. Another official from a mission in DR Congo said damage in Bukavu was extensive. "Many buildings have been hit. Lots of houses have completely collapsed," Jacqueline Chenard said.
The government has welcomed missionaries from other countries like UN to help with issues such as peacekeeping.
I feel that scientists should predict earthquakes and evacuate everyone in the area before it happens. Also, the people in DR Congo should be taught how to build buildings that do not fall easily. Luckily for the people of DR Congo, while it is prone to seismic activity, it has mostly escaped major quakes in recent years.
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