The Mineral Resources Department has confirmed to LegendFM News that they have an immediate plan in place where they will be conducting assessments on the landslides that occured on Mount Washington after the 5.3 magnitude earthquake on Sunday.
They say these include safety and damage assessments.
The Mineral Resources Department says they cannot confirm when they will be going to Kadavu, and will have a joint operation with the National Disaster Management Office.
People of Nabukelevu-I-Ra in Kadavu confirm that landslides occurred on Mount Washington and described the 5.3 magnitude earthquake on Sunday as a thunder like sounding movement on land which shook the mountain.
A school teacher of Nabukelevu District School in Daviqele, Kadavu Josese Salabiau says it was something that they have not seen before as they saw smoke and Mount Washington shaking.
Salabiau says with the distance of about 500 metres from the school to the foot of the the mountain base, it was a frightening experience.
[Photo: Kaiviti Diver]
He says they could see landslides on the mountain but it did not affect them in any way.
Salabiau says that they felt a sudden shake in the school building where books fell from the shelves and dishes fell out of the cupboards.
He says they have students from nearby villages which includes Daviqele, Nasau and Kabariki.
[Photo: Kaiviti Diver]
Salabiau says it is a good thing they always conduct earthquake and tsunami drills in the school and the students knew what to do when the earthquake occurred.
He says that they felt 11 tremors with the last one occurring at 11.43pm Sunday.
The Mineral Resources Department says the earthquake occurred 26 kilometres North North West of Vunisea, Kadavu at about 8.30am yesterday.
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