Magnitude 4.6 Earthquake Hits Kenya Near Tanzanian Border

A magnitude 4.6 earthquake has hit Kenya near the Tanzanian border on the Serengeti National Park side. The quake hit at 8:32:55PM East African Time, with tremors being felt 3 hours later in parts of the country.

BREAKING : Magnitude 4.6 Earthquake hits Kenya and Tanzania at 17:32:55 UTC. Tremors still being felt following the quake. Depth is 10Km. Affected area is Kenya-Tanzania Border near the Serengeti National Park – 78KM south of Nairobi.
Source: USGS#Earthquake #Kenya #Tanzania

— David Mania (@daviemaniaa) July 16, 2024

Kenya Earthquake: Magnitude 4.6 Earthquake Hits Kenya Near Lake Magadi

The magnitude 4.6 earthquake hit Kenya in Kajiado County with the epicenter 15 kilometers North North West of Lake Magadi, not too far away from the Kenyan border with Tanzania. The earthquake has a depth of 10 kilometers which is also its seismic focus, or the point underground where it originated. The coordinates for the quake’s epicenter are 1.782°S 36.215°E, as per the United States Geological Survey, USGS Website.

The epicenter of an earthquake is the point on the ground vertically above the seismic focus.

Lake Magadi Quake: Tremors Felt Over a Hundred Kilometers Away

Tremors could be felt in numerous parts of the country, over a hundred kilometers away. Residents in Nakuru, Naivasha, Nyeri, Thika, Machakos, and Nairobi have reported feeling tremors. So far, the shaking from the quake is classified as ‘Very Light’ with no reports of any damage. Shaking from an earthquake can range from ‘Not Felt’ to ‘Extreme’. Damage, in turn, can range from ‘None’ to ‘Very Heavy’. Refer to the image above.

Thika Rocked by Lake Magadi Quake

Thika, a town in the central part of the country, has experienced the highest tremor levels with ‘Moderate’ tremors felt. Moderate tremors are commonly associated with a damage classification of ‘Very Light’. In such instances, the damage expected from the tremors is little to none. [Source: USGS Website]

Residents of #Thika still reporting #Tremors from the quake right now, almost 3 hours after the initial Magnitude 4.6 earthquake#Earthquake #EarthTremor

— David Mania (@daviemaniaa) July 16, 2024

What to Do During an Earthquake

During an earthquake when one is indoors, they are generally advised to stay put and take cover, under a desk, near a wall, or in a hallway but stay away from areas where things can fall on them.

Those outdoors should stay in the open and away from things that could fall on them like buildings, trees, debris, falling glass, etc.

If driving, one should get as far out of traffic as possible and stop the car. One should, however, not stop the vehicle near things that could fall on them like electricity poles, trees, etc.

Those in mountainous areas are advised to stay aware and watch out for things that could fall downhill like rocks or landslides.

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