KILLS - Earthquake shakes northern Zambia

By Francis Maingaila

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - A 5.9-magnitude earthquake on Monday night hit the northern province of Zambia, including Kasama, the provincial capital, leaving hundreds injured.

Northern province Permanent Secretary Jobicks Kalumba told journalists that over 50 homes had collapsed and 27 were left in unstable condition.

“Some injured people are admitted in Kaputa District Hospital while others are in Kasama General Hospital," he said Tuesday.

According to Kalumba, the affected residents are in dire need of assistance in terms of food, clothing and accommodation.

“The government is appealing for aid to help the affected people, especially, the injured and those whose homes were destroyed by the tremor.”

Patrick Kangwa, the national coordinator of the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit, told journalists that experts have been dispatched to the affected areas to assess the extent of the damage.