Picture: “Volcano” threatens Bikita, Masvingo villagers

Volcano fears in Bikita Masvingo as villagers saw plumes of smoke billowing from the mountain summit after a huge boulder fell.

Authorities have moved to allay fears of a volcano eruption in Bikita, Masvingo and a dam wall collapse following earlier fears of the two disasters waiting to strike.

There were social media reports Sunday of imminent volcano eruption in Bikita.with claims there was smoke billowing from the mountain top.

Following the reports, government was quick to dispatch officials from the Civil Protection Unit to investigate the incidents and the threats posed.

Government, through a joint Local Government Ministry statement with the CPU, came back later during the day on Sunday to report that the smoke was caused by a rock fall from a mountain but with no casualties.

“A large rock weighing between 10-15 tonnes fell on Saturday 23 March 2019 in the morning,” read the statement.

“The rock fell into a nearby depression and split into two pieces.

“Two houses in the vicinity developed cracks as a result of the vibrations from the rock fall.”

Government said no one has been injured from the incident but advised the community in the area to be on high alert.