The epicenter was near Machaze in Manica Province of southern Mozambique, just north of the Save River.

[5] In the cities of Beira, Inhambane and Maputo the intensity reached V. The focal mechanism of the earthquake is consistent with normal faulting on a westerly dipping fault plane.

Field investigations identified 15 km of surface rupture in the form of a west-facing scarp, with up to 2.05 m of vertical displacement, although it was not possible to prove the full extent of surface faulting due to lack of time and the presence of minefields.

[3] Investigations using Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), combined with field and seismological observations, have identified two fault segments with slightly differing strikes, with the hypocenter and most of the displacement being on the more southerly of the segments.

[5] A total of four deaths were recorded, one in Espungabera, one in Machaze and two in Beira, with a further thirty-six injured.