People on the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar were shaken by a rare moderately-strong M5.5 earthquake on January 12, 2017 morning. Earthquakes are rare but not uncommon in Madagascar. This is the 8th largest quake in Madagascar’s history, the strongest having struck more than 67 years ago.
Witnesses described fairly strong shaking during 15 to 20 seconds. There were no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage. The United States Geological Service measured the quake at a magnitude 5.5 on the Richter scale. The quake was centered south of the lakeside town of Betafo, in central Madagascar, just a few miles from the border between Antananarivo and Fianarantsoa provinces. READ MORE
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