“This Is Terrible”: Family Escapes Home During Powerful Earthquake Before House Collapses, SA Moved
- A family was caught on camera sprinting out of their multi-storey home during a powerful earthquake
- The video captured the moment surrounding homes began crumbling into dust and debris right before their eyes
- South Africans online were stunned by the scale of the destruction and relieved the family got out in time
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Source: Twitter
A family narrowly escaped serious harm after a powerful earthquake struck on 11 August 2026, forcing them to abandon their modern multi-storey home within seconds as the ground shook beneath them.
The video shared by @pmcafric on X showed the family rushing out of their residence in an undisclosed location, calling out to one another to make sure every member, including the children, made it out safely. The urgency in their voices was unmistakable.
Damage unfolds in real time
Once outside, the family stood on the street and watched in disbelief as the earthquake continued to tear through the neighbourhood. Parts of neighbouring homes began collapsing, sending rubble and thick clouds of dust into the air. The destruction unfolded in under a minute, leaving a scene that looked unrecognisable from what it had been moments before.
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The footage was deeply unsettling to many who watched it, not just because of the damage but because of how quickly everything changed. One moment the family was inside their home; the next, buildings around them were reduced to ruins.
Watch the X video that left South Africans stunned below:
Mzansi reacts to the earthquake video
South Africans who came across the clip were shaken, with many expressing relief that no lives were lost:
User @CeissyOfficial said:
"No lives were lost. We Thank God for that. Good thing that the lad wasn't on headphones or AirPods."
User @MbusoKhoza_ wrote:
"Just like that nje, within 45 seconds, and the bill to repair is more than R100k."
User @GhettoGoddessSA shared:
"This is terrible, shame. Imagine watching ur house being destroyed by the weather 😞💔."
User @Sizi_phiwe noted:
"The damage is too big."
User @karndocian reflected:
"Nature is a powerful beast. I always admire people who have the presence of mind to take content in such situations. I was caught in the crosshairs of a tornado last year. I was so terrified that the thought of documenting the experience did not even cross my mind."
3 Briefly News articles about nature's wrath
- A viral video showing hikers struggling to stay on their feet against Cape Town's gale-force winds amused social media users, highlighting the extreme weather conditions in the Mother City.
- A shocking display of ocean power left Diaz Beach, beachfront properties heavily altered and exposed to potential infrastructure failure, sparking a massive online debate.
- A viral video capturing motorists navigating hazardous, icy roads after heavy snowfall blanketed Mount Fletcher in the Eastern Cape prompted traffic authorities to warn South Africans against non-essential travel.
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Source: Briefly News
