(South Africa)
"I thought the world was ending," were the words a resident used to describe her experience of the earthquake that hit South Africa.
17:56
"I thought the world was ending," were the words Mamosa Melato used to describe her experience of the earthquake that hit South Africa on Tuesday.
Melato was in her house, and her husband and son-in-law were sitting on the veranda, when the entire area of Orkney started shaking.
"I ran outside and saw the ground cracking. The toilet seat was dislodged from the plumbing system and water was everywhere," she said.
Bricks from the veranda fell where her husband and son-in-law were sitting and Melato said they were lucky to be alive.
Melato's neighbour was also affected by the earthquake. Ruth Molojwa was at work when she got the call telling her of damage to her house.
"When I got off the taxi, I saw my house destroyed. The bricks destroyed everything inside my house," she said.
Emergency personnel cordoned off both houses. While outside, two aftershocks were felt and residents were told not to enter their houses. "The aftershocks really frightened us," Melato said.
17:55
What should you do after an earthquake, according to ER24:
1. Establish if you have sustained any injuries. Check around you and try to see if anyone else sustained any injuries. If you can provide first aid, proceed to do so.
2. Call emergency services for medical assistance if someone sustained an injury.
3. If the building you are in sustained structural damage, even if you are unsure, evacuated calmly and quickly. (If possible)
4. Try and listen to your local radio station for emergency or news updates.
5. Do not enter any damaged buildings or areas. There might be debris lying around. Be very careful around broken glass and other items that can cause you harm. Do not take off your shoes.
6. Stay away from beaches until the area has been announced as safe.
7. If the area you are in has an evacuation or emergency plan, try and follow it.
17:52
5 things to do during earthquakes, according to ER24:
1. Stay calm.
2. Try and stay where you are. Use large and sturdy objects such as a big desk to crawl under. If you are in a building, try and stand with your back against the wall near the centre of the building.
3. Stay away from windows and outside doors.
4. Should you be outside at the time of an earthquake, look around you. Ensure you are clear from power cables or anything overhead that might fall on you. Do not stand near or against a building, debris might fall on top of you.
5. Use the stairs to evacuate premises (only when it is safe to do so)
17:25
Engineers are inspecting shaft infrastructure at two of AngloGold Ashanti's Vaal River mines, following an earthquake that has left seventeen employees injured.
"Our priority is the safe passage of our employees from underground. Engineers are inspecting shaft infrastructure, and at those shafts where this work is complete, hoisting of people to surface has already begun," said AngloGold Ashanti spokesperson Chris Nthite in a statement.
See pics of affected houses after the cuts......
