11 Sep 2016

Heavy casualties in Tanzania quake

10:12 am on 11 September 2016

A magnitude 5.7 earthquake has killed at least 11 people and injured 192 in northern Tanzania, authorities say.

The quake struck close to the border with Uganda and Rwanda near Lake Victoria.

The city of Bukoba in northern Tanzania was badly hit by the 5.7-magnitude quake.

The city of Bukoba in northern Tanzania was badly hit by the 5.7-magnitude quake. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Images posted on social media showed significant damage to buildings in Bukoba, a city of more than 70,000 people, where most casualties were reported.

Tremors were felt as far away as western Kenya.

"This incident has caused a lot of damage," Bukoba district commissioner Deodatus Kinawila said.

"As we speak now, the number of injuries stands at 192 and 11 dead.

"Because we are still collecting the information it's likely to go up. Even the number of injuries is likely to go up."

Rescue workers said local hospitals were full and could not cope with the number of injured.

Buildings have collapsed and people were still trapped underneath the rubble.

A statement issued by Tanzanian President John Magufuli's office said: "The president is shocked at the reports of the incident that has resulted in the loss of several people, and many others injured and property destroyed."

The US Geological Survey said the quake struck at a depth of 10km at 3:27pm local time (12:27am NZT).

East Africa's Great Rift Valley runs along a geological fault line but major earthquakes there are rare.

A magnitude six quake struck the Tanzanian town of Arusha, east of Bukoba, in July 2007.

-BBC, Reuters