Rwanda earthquakes reflect the country’s position within the seismically active East African Rift. The Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) identifies earthquakes among the geological hazards it monitors to support public safety and disaster preparedness.
Why Rwanda experiences earthquakes
Rwanda’s seismic activity relates to the western branch of the East African Rift, where movements in the Earth’s crust generate earthquakes.
The Kivu Rift, along the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, experiences both tectonic and volcanic seismic activity.
The Rwanda National Seismic Network supports monitoring of these events. Its objectives include studying the regional rift system, observing volcanic activity and informing measures to reduce geological risks, according to the International Federation of Digital Seismograph Networks.
Magnitude and shaking intensity measure different things
Magnitude describes an earthquake’s size at its source. Intensity describes its effects at a particular location, including the strength of shaking people experience.
The US Geological Survey explains that one earthquake can produce different intensities across the surrounding area. People in different neighbourhoods or districts may therefore experience the same event differently.
A magnitude estimate alone cannot establish how much damage an earthquake has caused. Its depth, distance from communities, local ground conditions and the design of buildings all influence its effects.
General safety guidance during shaking
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends dropping to the hands and knees, taking cover beneath a sturdy table or desk, and holding on until shaking stops.
People indoors should stay inside during shaking and keep away from windows and objects that could fall. Those already outdoors should move to an open area away from buildings, trees and power lines.
