Tremor felt in Nairobi traced to 4.5 magnitude earthquake in Tanzania
In an update after the incident, the department confirmed that the tremor was caused by shock waves from an earthquake that occurred near Longido town in northern Tanzania.
A tremor that shook parts of Nairobi and surrounding areas on Wednesday morning has been traced to seismic activity in Tanzania, according to the Kenya Meteorological Department.
In an update after the incident, the department confirmed that the tremor was caused by shock waves from an earthquake that occurred near Longido town in northern Tanzania.
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The event, which happened at 10:35 am, registered a magnitude of 4.5.
“Yes, tremors felt in Nairobi this morning were due to a regional earthquake… The tremors were caused by shock waves from this earthquake,” the Met department stated.
The exact location of the earthquake was 81 kilometres northwest of Longido, Tanzania, at coordinates 2.574°S and 35.983°E.
The department reported that the quake had a depth of 10 kilometres and was felt at intensity level III, meaning it was noticed but did not cause damage.
The tremors were also felt in parts of Machakos County, where the intensity was slightly stronger, reaching level IV.
Volcano Discovery, which monitors seismic activity worldwide, also confirmed the earthquake, noting it struck 91 kilometres from Kiratu in Tanzania’s Arusha Region.
The timing of the quake matched reports from Kenya, including the tremor experienced across various parts of Nairobi.
While the exact depth of the quake was not immediately clear from all sources, shallow earthquakes like this one tend to cause stronger tremors near the surface, even when their magnitude is moderate.
Kenyans in different parts of Nairobi and nearby towns took to social media soon after the tremor, sharing their experiences and seeking confirmation from authorities.
Residents in areas including Westlands, Parklands, Kangemi, and Mlolongo were among those who reported feeling the tremor.
Suburbs and satellite towns around the city also experienced the tremor.
Kenya Met has reassured the public that the quake was not strong enough to damage buildings or infrastructure.
The department said the tremors were weak and that no injuries or structural damage had been reported.
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