Indian Ocean Islands Near Mauritius Shaken By Earthquake

For the first time in modern times, an earthquake with magnitude of 5.7 on the Richter scale was registered on Friday in the vicinity of the Mascareignes Islands of the Indian Ocean.
The communiqué of the United States Geological Survey issued in the Mauritian capital Port Louis on Saturday indicates that the earthquake struck at around 8.47 am GMT under the sea at a distance of 290 km to the north-east of the outer island dependency of Rodrigues Island off the coast of Mauritius and that the epicenter was situated at 17.85 south and 65.39 east.

According to Johnson Roussety, the Chief Commissioner of Rodrigues, not much was felt on the island and no irregular waves were registered during the day.

However APA learns from Nicolas France, a boat skipper who was some 50 km out at sea to the south of Rodrigues that his fishing boat was rocked for some minutes soon after the quake hit.

He added that he immediately came back to shore and learned that the tremor was felt by villagers who live by the sea, but that no damage had occurred to their houses.

The police and emergency services have since Friday been put on high alert on the island in case any aftershock may be felt.

Mauritius, Reunion and Rodrigues form part of the Mascareignes Islands.

Source African Press Agency

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