Panic as 4.7-magnitude earthquake hits Kenya

An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.7 struck near Nairobi, Kenya, on Tuesday evening, causing tremors to reverberate across various parts of the city and surrounding areas.

The quake, which had a shallow depth of 10 km, occurred at approximately 8:32 pm local time, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ).

The epicenter of the earthquake was located near Nairobi, with the tremors felt in various parts of the city, including Kitengela, Ruaka, Westlands, Isinya, Kajiado County, Kirinyanga, Kisii, Nyeri, and Murang’a.

The tremors lasted for approximately 30 seconds, causing panic among residents.

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.

While the preliminary magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the earthquake are subject to revision, seismologists believe that the quake was perceptible to many individuals in the vicinity of the epicenter.

Fortunately, the earthquake is unlikely to have caused substantial damage, beyond minor incidents such as objects falling from shelves or broken windows.

However, nearby towns and cities may have experienced light to weak shaking, including Magadi, Kajiado, Ngong, Kikuyu, Narok, Nairobi, Limuru, and Athi River.

The Kenyan government has yet to issue an official statement on the earthquake.

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