The three earthquakes which have shaken Johannesburg in the past three weeks are most likely the result of water ingress (or penetrating damp) and mining activity, says seismologist Dr Martin Brandt. He also insists that the frequency of earthquakes is not increasing, but that people are becoming more aware of them, partly due to social media posts, and amateur scientists sharing information on tremors and seismic events. Earthquakes caused by mining and water ingress tend to be very shallow, around a kilometre below ground level, which could also account for why those in the area might have felt them so acutely, he explained.
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