Earthquakes Rock Rwanda, Killing at Least 39

KIGALI, Rwanda — Two earthquakes struck hours apart yesterday in Rwanda and neighboring Congo, killing at least 39 people including some who were in a church that collapsed, officials said.

Nearly 400 people were injured. A magnitude-6.0 quake struck Congo early, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The second quake, which registered 5.0, hit a few hours later near the countries' border in Rwanda's rural Rusizi District.

"I was at home when the earthquake hit and the next thing I heard, was the house falling down," an injured women who was airlifted to the Rwandan capital, Kigali, for treatment, Florence Nyiranzoga, said.

Another victim, who also airlifted here, said the death toll was sure to rise.

"I am sure very many people are going to die," she said, adding that the hospital near the quake's center was full and "people were scattered in the hospital compound." In Rwanda, 34 people were killed and 231 wounded, according to a Ministry of Health hotline. An official in the president's office, Frank Mugambage, said several were killed when their church collapsed. Rescuers were searching for more victims.

The Rwanda temblor rattled Kigali, some 125 miles away from the Rusizi District.