The United States Geological Survey
recorded a Magnitude 4.8 Earthquake at a
depth of 16.1 km, roughly 29 km to the southeast of the town of Fandriana in Amoron'i Mania Region, in the Central Highlands of Madagascar,
slightly after 10.00 9m local
time (slightly after 7.00 pm GMT) on Wednesday 13 May 2020. There are no reports of any damage or casualties
associated with this event, but it was felt in Antanarivo and Ambamo.
The approximate location of the 13 May 2020 Madagascar Earthquake. USGS.
Madagascar is a former chunk of the ancient continent of Gondwana, that was formerly wedged between Africa, Antarctica, India and the Seychelles. It split away from Africa from about 182 million years onwards and from the other continents between about 115 and 120 million years ago. It currently sits in the western Indian Ocean forming part of the Somali Plate (the eastern chunk of the African Plate, which is currently splitting in two along the East African Rift). However this Indian Ocean segment can be seen as a number of smaller tectonic blocks, such as the Seychelles Microplate and Madagascan Plate, which are being squeezed together by the active rifting on the East African Rift and Indian Ocean Ridge.
The position of Madagascar on the Somali Plate. Wikimedia Commons.
Madagascar itself has two main centres of seismic activity, the Alaotra-Ankay Rift Valley,
which is slowly splitting the Central Plateau of Madagascar in half,
and which is considered by some to be an extension of the East African
Rift, and the Ankaratra Plateau,
which is a shield volcanic structure located on this rift, which has
reached about 2700 m above sea level in a series of prehistoric lava
flows. This volcano has not undergone any eruptive activity in recorded
history, but does undergo periodic bouts of seismic activity
(Earthquakes).
A hill bisected by rifting in the Central Highlands of Madagascar. Bukla Tours.
Witness
accounts of Earthquakes can help geologists to understand these events,
and the structures that cause them. The international non-profit
organisation Earthquake Report is interested in hearing from people who may have felt this event; if you felt this quake then you can report it to Earthquake Report here.
See also...
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