Smoke billowing from Jebel Kujur quarrying blast,15.03.2023 (Photo: James Kwaje).

An expert with the geological society of South Sudan has raised alarm over quarrying activities at Jebel-Kujur and Jebel  Lemon areas in Juba, saying the areas risk man-made disasters.

” As a geologist of this country, the rock quarrying activities should be stopped because it is really dangerous and risky to us and to the people who are staying around the area, said Youditha Moses Labana, the social director.

She said that the activities might in the future cause landslides and quakes in the areas adding that “when the TNT blast the rock fragments can hit homes and even can hit the people staying around there and can cause loss of life and  of property.”

Her warning comes a day after an explosive quarrying substance on Wednesday blasted Jebel Kujur.

The blast shook buildings, terrifying residents in the surrounding areas.

A photo taken by Eye Radio showed white smoke billowing from the top of the mountain.

The suspected use of TNT [Trinitrotoluene] blast was not the first of its kind but has been there for years.

Youditha warned that such blast generates vibrations and can crack nearby buildings from superficial cracking to major structural damage.

She is calling on the government to intervene and stop the activities immediately to avoid future catastrophes.

“We don’t want to happen to our people, and the government should really look into this by relocating people who are staying nearby these areas,” she said.

However, Youditha suggested that there is a need for expert consultations on quarrying before embarking on such activities.

She said this is because rock quarrying requires pre-blast structure surveys, vibration, and air-blast monitoring, stringent blast effect control measures, effective blast area security, and warning methods must be evaluated for close-in blasting.

“Every mining activity that is being conducted should, first of all, take the priority  of the people who are in the near location.”

In response, Juba County Commissioner Charles Wani says he has been aware of the activities and will address the concerns, but his efforts to stop the activities were not heeded.

“Of course am well aware of that one, and I stopped it several times,

“We have been talking this morning Wednesday with the governor of Central Equatorial about how can we approach that situation, and of course we will approach it and solve it amicably,” he said.

The county official said there are other areas that also need to address including Jebel Amiyannin where he said he arrested many people, and they have been imprisoned.