September 23, 2016 Earthquake: Ukavu, Risuzi, Congo, Rwanda
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck Ukavu, Risuzi, Congo, Rwanda on September 23, 2016 at 16:11:56 UTC, 10 km below the surface. It killed 8 people.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- September 23, 2016
- Time
- 16:11:56 UTC
- Place
- Ukavu, Risuzi, Congo, Rwanda
- Magnitude
- 4.8 (mb)
- Focal depth
- 10 km (6 mi)
- Intensity
- 6 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 2.650° S, 29.060° E
- Country
- Rwanda
The toll
- Deaths
- 8
- Injuries
- Few (about 1 to 50)
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million)
- Houses destroyed
- 22
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
It has been established that the Friday evening strong earthquake severely destroyed more than 22 houses, killed one child due to collapsing house and injured more than 20 people in Rusizi district, western province. The ground shaking scenario happened at around 6:00pm and the injured were immediately rushed to Gihundwe hospital. The incident left a 4 year old child, Fabrice ishimwe dead. This has been confirmed by Dr. Placide Nshizirungu, the director of the hospital. Kamembe, Gihundwe, Nkanka, Nkungu sectors are some of the areas severely hit by the disaster... Reports say two people were killed by the same mild earthquake in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and rattled homes in Bukavu. Only five were injured in the main town in South Kivu province. (reference #11734)
At least 7 people killed, several injured and several buildings damaged at Bukavu, Congo. Felt at Bukavu, Kabare, Kahlehe, Kamanyola and Walungu. One person killed, at least 20 injured and more than 22 houses destroyed in Rusizi, Rwanda. Felt at Butare and Cyangugu. Bukavu, Sud-Kivu, Congo (Dem. Rep.) - CDI: 6 Kabare, Sud-Kivu, Congo (Dem. Rep.) - CDI: 5 Cyangugu, Cyangugu, Rwanda - CDI: 4 Butare, Butare, Rwanda - CDI: 2 (reference #13456)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- January 17, 2002, Gisenyi, Rwanda
- February 3, 2008, Bukavu, Congo
- May 25, 2021, Rubavu, Congo, Rwanda
- September 22, 1960, Lake Tanganyika, Congo
- August 7, 2015, Bukavu, Rwanda
- February 24, 2004, Ruyaga, Burundi
- October 24, 2002, Mugera, Kigali, Goma, Lwiro, Bukavu, Rwanda, Congo
- June 10, 2021, South Kivu, Congo
- February 14, 2008, Gisenyi, Rwanda
More
Significant earthquakes of 2016The 2000sEvery quake the USGS located in 2016Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 10228.