At least 30 killed by earthquakes in Rwanda and Congo

February 3, 2008 At least 30 people have been killed by twin earthquakes in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Deputy Rwandan Police Chief Mary Gahonzire spoke to Reuters in Kigali, saying of a magnitude 5.0 to 6.0 quake that struck there "The death toll [in Rwanda] has now increased to 25 from the earthquake. Two hundred have serious injuries," while Bernard Watunakanza, acting governor of South Kivu's Bukavu region, said "Up to now, there are five dead and 149 seriously injured." This makes the total current death toll 30 and injury count 350.

Radio Rwanda reports that ten of the Rwandan fatalities occurred together when a church collapsed onto them, killing them instantly. AFP reports the Rwandan ambulance service cannot cope with the casualties and public buses have been drafted in to help.

The quake could also be felt in nearby Burundi, but there are no reports of damage or injuries there.