HAMNET Report 12th January 2025

A few earthquakes have shaken our start to the new year. The first was a magnitude 5.8 quake in Ethiopia on the 4th of January at a depth of 10km, an hour or so after midnight UTC, and affecting a local population of 11500 people.

A second earthquake, measuring 7.1 in magnitude, struck China on 7th January at 01h05 UTC, also at a depth of 10km, and threatening a population of 10750 people nearby.

And another M 4.7 earthquake struck Ethiopia on Friday the 10th, at 09h57 UTC, and a fourth on Saturday 11th, at 00h19 UTC, an M 5.2, yet again at a depth of 10km, and threatening different groups of about 10000 people.

No reports of loss of life or severe injury have been received in the general media.

Meanwhile, the north eastern half of our country has been battered this week by thunderstorms, continuous rains, and even a tornado in Welkom on the 5th, which caused huge devastation and loss to businesses as well as private property. Damage to emergency service facilities crippled the town’s ability to provide immediate assistance, making the rescue and revival attempts after the disaster very challenging.

KwaZulu Natal was not spared, and disaster management teams were braced for severe weather, forecast from Monday to about Wednesday. Disruptive rainfall threatening low-water bridges and major travel routes during the end of the holiday period, were forecast, and accompanying accident statistics have been higher as a result. The rain had still not abated in parts of the province by Thursday, and disaster teams remained on alert.

By Friday, suddenly, a new Tropical Cyclone, named DIKELEDI, was announced, coming out of the central Indian Ocean, and bearing down on the northern tip of Madagascar, expected to arrive there today, Sunday the 12th, with wind speeds of up to 180km/h forecast. A RED alert level was posted, with the storm expected to cross Madagascar and then head for Mozambique, turning South-west, and travelling down the coastline in the general direction of the northern coast of KwaZulu Natal, hopefully just veering away from our border by the 15th. Let’s hope its impact on Madagascar, and then Mozambique is not as bad as forecast.

A visiting family’s near-drowning ordeal at Jongensfontein was miraculously averted thanks to the rapid response of local lifeguards, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), and two courageous surfers, reports capetownetc.com.

The life-threatening incident unfolded on the afternoon of Friday as a mother, father and their teenage daughter were swept out to sea by powerful rip currents at Sandstrand Beach.

At approximately 1:49pm, the NSRI Stilbaai duty crew received urgent reports of the drowning in progress. Eyewitnesses described the family of three struggling against the violent currents, rapidly being carried away from the shore. With the situation quickly escalating, every second counted.

In response, NSRI Stilbaai rescue swimmers immediately mobilised and made their way to the scene. Meanwhile, NSRI lifeguards stationed at the nearby swimming beach, 800 metres away at the caravan park, also rushed to assist. Upon arriving, the team encountered two surfers – Good Samaritans – who were already paddling toward the family, which was now approximately 800 metres off the shore.

With no time to spare, NSRI rescue swimmers and a lifeguard equipped with torpedo rescue buoys plunged into the surf. Alongside the surfers, they reached the family and found the mother unconscious but still breathing. Her condition was critical, and the rescuers acted swiftly to stabilise her.

The mother was carefully placed on one of the surfers’ boards, while the father and daughter clung to the second board. The group worked together to keep the family afloat as they awaited the arrival of the NSRI rescue craft.

After reaching the family, the NSRI rescue boat, Breede Rescuer, was launched from the Stilbaai rescue base, covering the 1-kilometre distance to reach the stranded group. The rescue boat successfully evacuated the family, as well as two NSRI rescue swimmers, and brought them on board to safety.

Meanwhile, the two surfers and the NSRI lifeguard returned to the beach, ensuring the family was well cared for until the rescue craft arrived.

During the journey back to the NSRI rescue base, the mother regained consciousness on board the vessel. Medical personnel immediately administered treatment for non-fatal drowning symptoms, and she was stabilised.

The family, who had travelled from Brits in Gauteng for a holiday in Stilbaai, were taken to local doctors for further evaluation and care. They are now recovering under the attentive care of medical professionals.

In sadder news capetownetc.com also remarks on the stark reminder the Cape Of Good Hope SPCA faced of the devastation fireworks can cause to animals. Their report of 3rd January shows blood-spattered window blinds, wooden gates and other furnishings caused by terrified dogs frightened to death by the noises which they can hear, and which we can’t.

The SPCA fielded call after call on 1st January early, regarding frightened, injured and displaced animals. The SPCA team worked tirelessly through the night and early hours, responding to distress calls. And by Friday the 3rd, calls were still coming in, indicating the far-reaching impact fireworks have on animals. For the innocent animals, fireworks are not a celebratory display – they are a nightmare.

But of course, we humans are far too self-centred to think of the effect our actions have on other creatures, having little insight in to the nature and personalities of our pets, or wildlife in general.

I have to confess I get despondent when I think of how inconsiderate we can really be.

HAMNET Western Cape, and HAMNET Gauteng are preparing for cycle tours coming up.

The first is the Fast One Cycle race at the Meyerton Race Track, between the 25th and 26th January, and due to keep HAMNET Gauteng busy for at least 24 hours.

The second is the 99er cycle tour on the 8th February, taking place between Durbanville and Malmesbury in the Western Cape. HAMNET provides rover duties and stationary-mobile observers at a variety of points to provide extra eyes to the organisers, of problems as they arise.

Volunteers for the 99er are still sought, so if any of you rabid communicators are available that Saturday morning and haven’t volunteered yet, please contact Michael ZS1MJT via the usual channels.

Then the third is the HAMNET Ride for Sight in Gauteng on the 16th February, with organization and set-up taking place on the 15th. All Gauteng members are heartily encouraged to offer their services for these two cycle tours in Division six.

This is Dave Reece ZS1DFR, far too lazy to attempt to ride a bicycle without falling off, and reporting for HAMNET in South Africa.