This earthquake had a magnitude Mw 6.2, and the epicenter was located in Democratic Republic of the Congo, near Lake Kivu.

[3] Lake Kivu belongs to the western branch of the East African Rift System (EARS).

[1] These observations have been combined with the analysis of InSAR data and the known geology of the area to conclude that the earthquake was a result of movement on one of the east-dipping rift border faults.

[6] The earthquake was preceded by an eruption in the Nyiragongo volcanic area to the north of Lake Kivu, in January 2002.

Analysis of the effect of the diking on the stress field to the south suggests that faulting like that seen in the earthquake may have been promoted by this event.