Scores of people were killed and buildings destroyed when a powerful earth tremor shook the South Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday.

According to a BBC report, the peacekeeping forces based in the provincial capital, Bukavu have said about 40 people were killed in the wake of the earthquake, and many more left traumatised.

Its effects were widespread and felt in Goma in North Kivu province, about 100 kilometres from Bukavu, on the southern tip of Lake Kivu.

Bukavu experienced a serious impact with buildings, including houses, hotels and school buildings, collapsing and roof tops destroyed.

The industrial area in Bukavu where most businesses keep their wares has been destroyed and the roof of a public market collapsed.
 
Across the border, officials in Rwanda have reportedly said about 34 people have died in the country's towns close to Bukavu, including 10 killed when a church collapsed.

ActionAid staff based in Bukavu, who were in Goma when the incident took place, are expected to respond to the situation after assessing and obtaining detailed information on the impact of the earthquake.

"The emergency response team of ActionAid in Goma is planning an emergency assessment. The team has already left for South Kivu province in Bukavu," says Alpha Sankoh, program support coordinator for ActionAid in DRC.

ActionAid staff in the two provinces say the government is advising people to stay away from buildings and avoid crowded areas.

Rwandese local government minister, Protais Musoni told the press that rescue operations were continuing, with police and military personnel trying to pull people out from the ruins of their houses.

It was not immediately known what triggered the tremor, but the two provinces are located near Mount Nyiragongo, said to have one of the most active volcanoes in Africa.

Hundreds of people were evacuated from their homes in Goma, and about 50 killed, when the mountains erupted in January 2002, spewing lava into the streets of the eastern DRC town.

The area has also been destabilised by infighting between rebels and government forces, which has recently caused over 800,000 to flee their homes into displacement camps.