Moderate earthquake of magnitude 4.9 reported in Uganda

An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 occurred in the evening on Monday, March 27th, 2023, at 8:20 pm local time near Ntungamo, Kanungu District, Western Region, Uganda, as reported by the United States Geological Survey.

According to preliminary data, the quake was located at a shallow depth of 16.1 km. Shallow earthquakes are felt more strongly than deeper ones as they are closer to the surface. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report.

A second report was later issued by The Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS), which listed it as a magnitude 4.9 earthquake as well. Other agencies reporting the same quake include the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) at magnitude 4.8, and the citizen-seismograph network of RaspberryShake at magnitude 4.9.

Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake should not have caused any significant damage, but was probably felt by many people as light vibration in the area of the epicenter.

Weak shaking might have been felt in Ntungamo (pop. 16,900) located 39 km from the epicenter, Kanungu (pop. 14,600) 57 km away, Ruhengeri (pop. 86,700) 92 km away, Kabale (pop. 43,500) 93 km away, Butembo (pop. 154,600) 97 km away, and Goma (pop. 144,100) 106 km away.