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Mufulira has been hit by severe earth tremors
Thursday, 30 Sep 2010
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It is reported that Mufulira, one of the oldest mining towns in the Copperbelt region in Zambia has been hit by severe earth tremors that have caused cracks to some houses, prompting residents to attribute the problem to mining activities by First Quantum owned Mopani Copper Mine.
Town Clerk Mr Charles Mwandila said that some residents were concerned with the increased tremors that have resulted in a number of houses, located near the KCM mining operations to crack because of vibrations.
Mr Mwandila said that the local authority plan to bring in geo tech experts to ascertain vibrations that are causing houses in Kankoyo Special to crack.
Residents of Mufulira’s Kankoyo special Township have complained about their houses having cracks and blamed the vibrations on mining activities by Mopani Copper Mine, who have dismissed the claims.
Some of the residents said that they experience continuous vibrations especially during the night. The vibrations are almost continuous especially at night and they can be felt from the window panes. During the day, they are felt at intervals. The tremors have further resulted in some houses having big openings with some water pipes bursting.
Mr Mwandila said that the residents complained to Mopani Copper Mines through the council.
Some people from MCM and the council even went on site to take pictures of the extent of the cracks but Mr Mwandila told the residents that Mopani had denied being responsible for the cracks and attributed to ‘old age of the houses.
Mr Mwandila, who said to have visited the site recently to see the extent of the cracks said scientific evidence was required to determine whether the cracks were due to vibrations from the mine or just natural movements.
MCM told Mr Mwandila that there was need to get a second opinion on the matter because as far as they were concerned, there was no primary blasting around that area. Geo tech experts would be brought in to determine the cause of the problem.
Mr Mwandila said that the local municipality had written to the Environmental Council of Zambia over the matter and was awaiting their response. I have been on site and I have seen the cracks but it is so difficult to determine whether they are as a result of mining or not. A few houses in that area are badly cracked.