A magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city, on Tuesday evening, catching residents off guard.
Gatekeepers News reports that the earthquake monitor reported the quake was strong, with a shallow depth of 10 kilometers.
“Shallow earthquakes are felt more strongly than deeper ones as they are closer to the surface,” the monitoring agency explained.
“Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake was probably felt by many people in the area of the epicenter. It should not have caused significant damage, other than objects falling from shelves, broken windows, etc.”
Although the exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake may be revised as seismologists review data, Kenya has experienced a significant number of earthquakes in recent years.
In the past decade, 29 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or above have struck within 300 kilometers of the country, averaging two earthquakes per year.
The strongest recent quake occurred on May 3, 2020, with a magnitude of 5 and a depth of 10 kilometers. Historically, the strongest earthquake to hit Kenya was a 6.7 magnitude quake on January 6, 1928, the strongest in the past 124 years.
The earthquake monitor’s statement reassured that the quake was unlikely to have caused significant damage, but the sudden tremors still caused panic among Kenyans.
