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Claim: Makagbeh Kamara, a Facebook user, posted in a Facebook group (Fries FM) alleging an earthquake in Voinjama City, Lofa County.
Verdict: Misleading! The National Disaster Management Agency of Liberia informs DUBAWA that the incident was an Earth Tremor, not Earthquake, as claimed.
Full Text
On Monday, November 18, 2024, a social media user named Makagbeh Kamara posted in a Facebook group called Fries FM, alleging that an earthquake occurred in the Capital City of Lofa, Voinjama. He lamented that the entire city was affected.
The poster said, “The entire Voinjama City experienced an earthquake two hours ago. Lord, please have mercy on us.”
A screenshot of the claim.
The post generated 171 reactions and 241 comments since it first came out. The claim created mixed reactions amongst readers, with some believing it while others described it as untrue.
A screenshot of some of the reactions.
The mixed reactions led DUBAWA to initiate a fact-check.
Verification
DUBAWA contacted the Communication Officer of the National Disaster Management Agency of Liberia, Mr Archievego M Doe, to ascertain the claim. According to Mr Doe, the NDMA received a report on a low-intensity earth tremor in the area. He added that a team of geologists, environmentalists, and risk reduction experts reached the location and conducted an assessment. The National Disaster Management Officer informed DUBAWA that the findings confirm the occurrence of an earth tremor and not an earthquake.
A screenshot of the conversation.
According to Citizen Digital, an earthquake is a violent shaking of the ground that causes widespread devastation due to movements in the earth’s crust or volcanic activity. An Earth tremor is a small, brief movement of the Earth’s surface caused by the same forces that cause earthquakes.
Earthquakes are more intense and cause larger ground motions than tremors, typically smaller and less intense.
Conclusion
Our findings reveal that there was an earth tremor in Voinjama, but it wasn’t an earthquake. Therefore, the claim is misleading.
