Nov 24, 2010

Somaliland: Borama Rocked by Earthquake


No casualties have been reported after the quake which is believed to be of the biggest magnitude in the region since 80s.

Below is an article published by Somaliland Press

A powerful earthquark has hit the Somaliland town of Borama in the western region of Awdal at around 11:35-PM local time (East African standard time). The magnitude of this earthquake is unknown since the country does not have any geological surveys however it has been felt widely throughout the epicentral region and across the town.

Early reports indicate, this was one of the biggest to hit the region since the early 1980s when the town was almost leveled at one point. Witnesses said that tremors lasted for about 15 seconds. Hundreds fled in panic from their homes and tall offices however no casaulties or serious damages have been reported.

Earthquarks are frequent in the town and the surrounding area since a known geological fault line (the African Plate); which splits into two – the Nubian and the Somalian plate, runs through the region. A similar earthquark hit the town on March 25 of this year – there were small damages and no fatalities.

Borama is a mountainous and hilly city home to roughly 150,000 to 200,000 residents and lays 150-km north-west of the capital, Hargeisa. The region is bordered to the north by Djibouti and the west by Ethiopia.