On Tuesday, July 16, 2024, a magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck 15 km (9 mi) NNW of Magadi, Kenya, at around 8:32 pm local time. The quake had a very shallow depth of 10 km (6 mi) and was widely felt in the Nairobi area, including parts of Kitengela, Ruaka, and Westlands.
The tremors lasted for about 30 seconds and were also reported in Isinya, Kajiado County. Earthquake Monitor confirmed the seismic activity and stated that the shallow depth of the quake caused it to be felt more strongly near the epicenter than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would.
Kenyans took to social media to share their experiences, with some expressing concern over the intensity of the tremors. One user reported feeling their entire apartment shaking, while another urged others to repost if they had experienced the earthquake.
- Who is Josh Shapiro, Kamala Harris Considers Josh Shapiro for VP Amid Pennsylvania’s Crucial Role in 2024 Election
- Global Heat Record Shattered: July 21, 2024, Declared Hottest Day in History
- Radical Cleric Anjem Choudary Convicted for Directing Banned Terror Group Al-Muhajiroun
- Biden Faces Health Rumors as COVID-19 Recovery Continues, Political Implications Loom
- Kamala Harris’s Potential Presidency: What Her Indian Roots Could Mean for India-U.S. Relations
The Kenya Rift Valley and the Kavirondo (Nyanza) Rift are the most seismically active areas in Kenya, with earthquakes typically ranging from local magnitudes (Ml) of 2.0 to 5.0. However, historical records show that larger magnitude earthquakes of Ml ≥ 6.0 have occurred in the region, such as the 1928 Subukia earthquake (Ml 7.1) and its Ml 6.2 aftershock, as well as a Ml 6.2 earthquake in the Turkana region in 1913.
More recently, the region has experienced smaller tremors, such as a Ml 4.4 earthquake near Mtito Andei, Makueni County in June 2024 that was felt in parts of Nairobi. The seismic hazard in the Kenya Rift Valley is considered significant, with the potential for relatively large but infrequent earthquakes to occur in the future.