Key Points
- Kariba Dam shows no unusual activity after December 23 earthquake.
- Six earlier tremors in December ranged between magnitudes 4.1 and 4.7.
- ZRA assures the dam’s safety through inspections and monitoring.
According to the Zambezi River Authority, the Kariba Dam is still acting “normally” and has not been impacted by the recent earthquakes that have struck Kariba and the surrounding areas.
ZRA confirms Kariba Dam unaffected by December 23 earthquake
Inspections and data analysis from dam monitoring devices following the tremors showed no unusual activity, the authorities said in a statement on Thursday.
On December 23, the most recent earthquake, with a magnitude of 4.9, occurred. Its epicenter was 10 kilometers deep and roughly 19 kilometers southeast of Zimbabwe’s Kariba Dam.
As stated by New Zimbabwe, six more earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 4.1 to 4.7 were recorded in the area between December 1 and December 20. The majority of the epicenters were found in the adjacent Charara Safari Area or the Kariba Reservoir.
Recent earthquakes in Kariba region analyzed by monitoring systems
About 106 kilometers from Kariba Dam, in Zimbabwe’s Hurungwe District, there was one earthquake of magnitude 4.3 on December 11.
The ZRA stated, “The authority inspects the dam and analyzes data from monitoring instruments after each earthquake incident, including the one on Dec. 23, as part of emergency preparedness and standing operating procedures.”
“The dam continues to exhibit normal behavior consistent with prevailing loading conditions, and these inspections and data analyses did not reveal any unusual observations,” the statement continued.
The authority restated its dedication to guaranteeing the Kariba Dam’s long-term dependability and safety for the benefit of Zambia, Zimbabwe, and the surrounding area as well as for public safety.
Areas like Siavonga in Zambia and Hurungwe in Zimbabwe were also impacted by the earthquakes.
