[imagesource: Volcano Discovery]

Residents of Boksburg were given a rude awakening this morning, as a 3,5 magnitude earthquake struck the area at 6:32AM.

The earthquake was confirmed by the Council for Geoscience (CGS) spokesperson Mahlatse Mononela, who spoke with Business Day.

Those figures differ slightly from those shared by Volcano Discovery, which measured the quake as a 3,6 on the Richter Scale, and had the time down as 6:34.

Either way, it was too late in the morning to blame it on South Africans leaping for joy as Tatjana Schoenmaker secured our first Tokyo Olympics gold medal, smashing the world record in the process.

Volcano Discovery allows users to report their experience, which many did:

• Alberton: House was vibrating (Weak shaking (MMI III))
• Benoni: The sofa was shaking and there was a rattling sound (Weak shaking (MMI III))
• Kew, Gauteng, South Africa: Very weak shaking, house rattling. (Very weak shaking (MMI II))
• Alberton, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng: It was just a small vibration with sound…nothing too intense (Weak shaking (MMI III))
• Benoni: Shaking for around 15 seconds (Weak shaking (MMI III))
• Johannesburg South: House shaking. It was concerning (Moderate shaking (MMI V))
• Boksburg: Lasted for about 3 seconds. It was intense. All windows were shacking. Foundations were shacking. (Light shaking (MMI IV))
• Brackenhurst, Alberton: Heard a huge rumble that sounded like an aeroplane but louder. Minor shaking experienced in the house (Weak shaking (MMI III))

Another Boksburg resident said picture frames fell from the walls, whilst someone in Rhodesfield said their wardrobe was shaking vigorously.

Not your Imagination – –
3.6 quake 4.2 km southwest of Boksburg, #Gauteng South Africa, 2021-07-30 06:34:52 SAST (GMT+02:00)
https://t.co/yWSsNih5ZE#earthquake #Boksburg

— Joburg 🥇 Gauteng #011 (@curateJoburg) July 30, 2021

Speaking to SA People, Louis NB said: “Oh, yes, first morning parents did not have to beg the kids to get out of bed. Seriously our neighbours lost a few windows.”

Council for Geoscience on @Radio702 confirms an earthquake south of Boksburg around the Dawn Park area. Measured around 3.5. The suspicion is it was fluid or mining related.

— Mandy Wiener (@MandyWiener) July 30, 2021

In due course, the CGS says it will release further details.

[sources:busday&volcanodiscovery&sapeople]