Second Earth Tremor Shakes Johannesburg and West Rand in as Many Months

An unnerving shake was felt across parts of Johannesburg and the West Rand yesterday evening, marking the second earth tremor experienced in this region in as many months. The tremor reportedly occurred at around 9:25 pm.

Details of the event were shared across multiple platforms, with Gauteng Weather taking to X (formerly Twitter) to relay this unusual event: “Multiple reports of a tremor in parts of Johannesburg and the West Rand at around 21:25.”

As far as reports indicate, there were no immediate instances of damages or injuries. However, social media was abuzz with local residents sharing their first-hand experiences of the tremor.

The Council for Geoscience (CGS) is yet to officially declare the magnitude of this latest geological event, adding an element of uncertainty into the mix for residents.

The incident follows close on the heels of a similar tremor in August, which CGS confirmed as having a magnitude of 2.7. This earlier shake was felt in various communities, including Johannesburg, Soweto, Krugersdorp, and Roodepoort, among other areas.

These recent tremors serve as an unsettling reminder of the increased geological activity in Gauteng. In June 2023, residents were jolted awake by a significant 4.4 magnitude earthquake that rattled the region from its epicentre south of Boksburg.

It seems Johannesburg residents can only hold their breath as they wait for CGS to provide details and possible reassurances about this latest earth shake.