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Earthquakes in South Africa

- Ozayr Patel and Ray Durrheim

Pasha 78: Listen to Professor Ray Durrheim talk about the risk of earthquakes.

Earthquakes are quite rare on the African continent. But that’s not to say that one couldn’t hit and be damaging. Recently the Western Cape region of South Africa saw some earthquake activity, though it’s unusual and was low on the scale that measures earthquakes. There is always a risk that a larger one could hit the region. Why do they occur? Is South Africa prepared? What about potential damage to the nuclear power plant in the region?

In today’s episode of Pasha, Ray Durrheim, research chair in exploration, earthquake & mining seismology at the University of the WitwatersrandR, answers these questions. He also recalls South Africa’s biggest recorded natural earthquake, around 50 years ago, and sets out some of the disaster measures the country would have to take in the event that a big one struck.

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