An earthquake of magnitude 5.9 hit north-west Tanzania on Saturday 10th September, killing 16 people and injuring over 250. It was the worst earthquake Tanzania has experienced for over a decade. While a magnitude 5.9 earthquake is classified as ‘moderate’, it will cause damage to buildings. On this occasion, over 800 houses were destroyed, or seriously damaged, making a large number of people homeless.

The impact has put severe strain on local health and welfare services. The epicentre was near to Lake Victoria and shock waves were felt in Mwanza, about 120 miles away, and in Simiyu Region, where the Mayega Children’s Centre is situated. We have had no reports of casualties in Mwanza or Mayega and Rev Deuli has reported that  everyone we know is absolutely fine. Most of the casualties were in the city of Bukoba.

Lake Victoria is in the Great Rift Valley, which sits on a geological fault line and that increases the chances of earthquakes occurring. Despite this, major earthquakes in the area are rare.