AN earthquake that struck Orkney in the North West province yesterday, and left one man dead and scores injured, shook South Africans into a state of panic.
The earthquake was said to have measured a 5.3 on the Richter scale and was felt in a 600km radius from the point of origin. Durabnites quickly took to social media networks to report the 90 second ground-shaking incident.
“South Africa is not accustomed to earthquakes, we do however experience tremors from time to time, but none of them cause any real damage or make national news.
South Africans experienced what is believed to have been the second largest earthquake in 45 years,” said Russel Meiring, media spokesman for ER24.
“Emergency Services always face a challenge with such an incident. When panic sets in, emergency contact centres should be prepared to handle more than normal the volume of emergency calls. On top of this, emergency services have to combine resources to ensure that they are ready for a possible influx of emergency calls,” he said.
Tips on what you should do during an earthquake?
1. Stay calm.
2. Try and stay where you are. Use large and sturdy objects such as a big desk to crawl under. If you are in a building, try and stand with your back against the wall near the centre of the building. You should try and stay away from windows and outside doors.
3. Should you be outside at the time of an earthquake, ensure you are clear from power cables or anything overhead that might fall on you. Do not stand near or against a building as debris might fall on top of you.
4. Only use the stairs to evacuate premises when it is safe to do so.
What should you do after an earthquake?
1. Establish if you have sustained any injuries and then look to see if anyone else is injured. “If you can provide first aid, proceed to do so,” said Meiring. Contact emergency services if someone is injured.
2. If there is structural damage to the building you are in, evacuate it as quickly and as calmly as you can.
3. Tune in to the local radio station for emergency news and updates.
4. Do not enter any damaged buildings or areas.
5. There may be debris on the ground, such as broken glass, which could be harmful and residents are advised to keep their shoes on at all times.
6. Beaches are classified as no go zones to stay away from them.
“If the area you are in has an evacuation or emergency plan, try and follow it. Expect aftershocks,” said Meiring.
