No injuries after tremor hits several areas in West Rand and Joburg

The Council for Geoscience (CGS) has confirmed that a 2.7 magnitude tremor has rocked several areas on the West Rand including Johannesburg.

Various communities also felt the ground shake, including in Soweto, Krugersdorp and Roodepoort amongst other areas.

The CGS confirmed the tremor occurred on Wednesday evening, 30 August 2023, at around 21:44 SAST.

“The seismic event was located by means of the CGS’s automatic locator system through the South African National Seismograph Network, registering a preliminary local magnitude of approximately 2.7.

“The event is estimated to be located within the broader Randfontein region in the West Rand. The CGS Seismologists are currently analysing the data and once this is concluded, subsequent communication will follow detailing the exact location and magnitude of the seismic event,” the CGS said.

Emergency Services

Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said there were no reports of any damages or injuries.

“At this stage, we have not yet received any major incidents throughout the City of Johannesburg in our emergency call centre.

“However, we will remain on high overnight to make sure that we can be able to respond to any area which might have been affected by the tremor,” Mulaudzi said.

Tremors or earthquake

Chief scientist at the Council for Geoscience (CGS), Eldridge Kgaswane, explained in SA an earthquake is defined as seismic activity roughly registering a magnitude around 4.0 and higher. Anything lower is classified locally as a tremor.

This is not the first time that a tremor has hit Gauteng.

ALSO READ: Powerful earthquake hits large parts of Gauteng

In June 2023, South Africans were awoken by a powerful 4.4 magnitude earthquake, which was felt across large parts of Gauteng.

The quake hit the south of Boksburg at approximately 2:38am early on Sunday morning, causing homes and buildings to shake.

Just two weeks later on the 29th of June, Johannesburg residents were shaken awake by a 2.9 magnitude tremor originating in Soweto.

ALSO READ: ‘Earthquake’ rattles parts of Joburg