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Sunday, February 3, 2008

Deadly earthquake shakes Rwanda



At least 21 people have been killed - many when a church collapsed - and some 200 injured in an earthquake in western Rwanda, reports say.
The quake, felt across several countries of the Great Lakes region, had a magnitude of 5.0. Police say the death toll could rise.
Its epicentre was 20km (12 miles) east of Bukavu, a town across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake rocked the region in December 2005.
But while it is prone to seismic activity it has mostly escaped major quakes in recent years.
The earthquake hit at about 0935 (0735 GMT).
It lasted about 15 seconds and was followed by two lesser tremors, which caused panic in Bukavu and in Rwanda, AFP news agency reported.
Power cuts
Rwandan radio said 10 people died when a church collapsed in Rusizi district.
The rest were killed in other parts of Rusizi and Nyamesheke district.
There were unconfirmed reports of two more fatalities in Bukavu.
Witnesses told AFP that public buses were being used to transport the injured to hospital.
The quake was also felt in neighbouring Burundi, disrupting hydroelectric power and causing a half-hour electricity cut.

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