18 July 2007
Nairobi — Various parts of the country including the capital city Nairobi were in the throes of panic after an earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale shook parts of East Africa.
Tremors were also reported in Nakuru, Mombasa, Embu, Nanyuki, Trans Mara and parts of Ukambani.
It was the fourth straight day on Tuesday that the earth movements, which began with mild episodes at the weekend, were felt in the capital.
In Makueni President Kibaki's speech was interrupted by the powerful tremor, which lasted about a minute.
"Umesikia kitu ni kama inateleza?" (Did you feel something like a movement?" he asked, causing laughter from the audience.
He took it in his stride as he acknowledged that frequent tremors have been experienced lately.
The earthquakes had risen in strength
Reports that the epicentre of the tremors earlier traced to Lake Natron, Tanzania, some 240km away from Nairobi could be moving closer to the city caused fear and concern.
The earthquakes had also reportedly risen in strength from 4.4 on the Richter Scale last Thursday, to 6.1 by 5.10pm on Tuesday.
In Nairobi, residents first felt the tremor on Saturday evening, twice on Sunday, then on Monday, culminating in Tuesday's.
The tremors, picked out by Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, hit in succession within a difference of five seconds.
According to the United States Geological Survey Earthquakes Hazards programme in Denver, Colorado, the first - which measured 6.0 on the Richter scale - was felt at 5.10.43pm, followed by a more powerful one at 5.10.50pm.
People dashed out of buildings
The epicentre of the first tremor was in Tanzania near the Kenyan border, just 145km from Nairobi while the second was some 246km away.
The third hit at 9.27.51pm and measured 5.0 on the Richter scale, with the epicentre traced to Tanzania some 185km South South West of Nairobi.
In Nairobi, people dashed out of buildings fearing they could collapse, while in Mombasa, the tremors caused ocean turbulence and was experienced by people travelling by ferry.
"I felt like my heart missed a beat as the ferry I was in was being rocked by fierce sea waves," said a passenger.
"There was turbulence in the waters and at one point, I thought we were going to sink," Mr Edward Mulinge said.
An expert from the Department of Geology, University of Nairobi, Prof Opiyo Aketch said the tremors originated from Lake Natron, on the Kenya-Tanzania border.
"There is so much under-earth activity at Lake Natron rocks are being displaced and in turn causing the tremors, we cannot predict the impact or the period there is nothing we can do to stop them but only to take caution," he said.
Panic on most city centre streets
In Nairobi, people who were in skyscrapers like the Bima Towers and NSSF buildings stormed out fearing they might tumble.
At I&M Bank Tower, the headquarters of the Standard Group, there was panic when the shockwaves were experienced at around 5.10pm.
There was also panic on most city centre streets. There was confusion in Nakuru as residents scrambled to get out of buildings to safe ground. The town and surrounding areas such as Subukia lie on fault lines that stretch from the Menengai Crater and across Lake Nakuru.
The tremor was also felt in Eldama Ravine at around 5.15pm, causing a state of confusion in the town as people rushed out of buildings.
According to Mr David Kimosop, a geologist, the tremor shook buildings, power and telephone lines.
"This thing is terrible and the members of the public should be careful. We have never witnessed earth tremors persisting for more than a week consecutively in the country," he added.
Temporary structures either caved in or cracked
People were forced to abandon houses and social places in Narok for fear they could collapse.
Reports say temporary structures in some areas of the town either caved in or cracked.
Areas of Maasai Mara game reserve, Loita and most trading centres on the Kenya/Tanzania border experienced long durations of the tremors, sending panic.
According to Aketch, Kenya has four stations meant to monitor the magnitude and origin of earthquakes but are poorly manned due to inadequate finances.
One active station at Kilimambogo has been registering the tremors and is even connected to the global network of stations manned by the US.
He said the Government had not been keen to maintain the monitoring stations and only stirs into action after a tragedy has occurred.
"We have been talking to the Government about the need to manage the stations but they are not responding," he said.
Geological experts asked to prepare a report
On Tuesday night the Government said it had tasked geological experts at the University of Nairobi to prepare a comprehensive report on the tremors.
"The Government will issue a statement tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon after receiving the report, said Government Spokesman Dr Alfred Mutua.
Data by experts was being analysed on a 24-hour basis, though there has been no destruction of buildings, he said.
A statement on the Government spokesman's website said stations providing data are the Lang'ata Station, Chiromo Station and Magadi Station.
Speaking to The Standard earlier, the chairman of the Geology Department at the University of Nairobi, Dr Eliud Mathu, said their machines could not register the magnitude of the tremor.
"We have machines at Magadi, Lang'ata, Meru and Kilimambogo but only the Kilimambogo one is functional," he said.
Reports by Edith Fortunate, James Ratemo, Amos Kareithi, Samuel Otieno, Abiya Ochola, Peter Mutai, Kipchumba Kemei and Philip Mwakio
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