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Today in history: Cape Town is hit by an earthquake
The main cause of the quake was the Milnerton fault, running across the Milnerton area, the Cape Flats and right through to the city centre.
Cape Town was hit by an earthquake measuring 6,5 on the Richter Scale on 4 December 1809.
The quake was the biggest recorded earthquake ever to have hit the City of Cape Town.
The main cause of the quake was the Milnerton fault, running across the Milnerton area, the Cape Flats and right through to the city centre.
In 1809 there wasn’t much infrastructure for the quake to destroy, leaving only fissures in the ground.
A quake of that magnitude would be devastating if it hit the area today due to the population density and infrastructure.
Information sourced from: South African History Online.
