Land phenomenon puzzles officials in Musanze

An uncommon natural phenomenon of a 2 hectare land which drifted vertically 2.5 meters underground has puzzled local residents as geologists call for deeper research to establish the cause and avert any possible negative impactThe occurrence started three months ago in Bushinge village, Kibingo cell, Rwaza sector. It has affected at least 16 families including three situated on the land.The District Environment Officer, Jean Pierre Ndagijimana, said all families within the vicinity will be moved to another village, and called for more geological investigations to find out what lies underneath“We have gazetted the area. People will be resettled. We are currently involved in community work to construct houses but people need to be compensated for their land ’’ Ndagijimana saidGeologists have described the phenomenon as a result of tectonic movement, which split vertically as result of faults resulting from natural movement of land underground.The Minister of Natural Resources, Stanislas Kamanzi, and the Minister of Disaster Preparedness, Marcel Gatsinzi, reportedly visited the site last month.“This is a natural occurrence where land rises on one side and sinks on the other. Sometimes we can’t recognize these phenomenon, but it causes a lot of concern because it’s abnormal,’’ Ndagijimana saidJoseph Nzayituriki, a resident of Rwaza, said that the residents are concerned that the whole hill may be going downwards, and it may cause a disaster any time.