On the night of Tuesday, July 16, some parts of Kenya experienced earth tremors, lasting for about 10 seconds at around 8.30 p.m.
Kenyans living in some parts of Nairobi, Magadi, Kajiado Kikuyu, Limurur, and Athi River shared that they experienced the rare phenomenal, witnessing cabinets snd household items shaking as the earth beneath them moved.
According to reports, it was a 4.6 magnitude light earth tremor about 10 kilometres deep.
“A strong magnitude 4.6 earthquake hit 87 km (54 mi) away from Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya, in the evening of Tuesday, Jul 16, 2024, at 8.32 pm local time (Africa/Nairobi GMT +3),” seismic research institute Volcano Discovery wrote.
Due its unpredictability, many Kenyans were caught offguard, and hence there is need to equip yourself with information of how to handle the scenario, and also what not to do to worsen the situation.
Here are some things you should avoid doing in the event of an earth tremor:
Do Not Panic
It is important to remain calm during an earth tremor as panicking may just make your mind run amok with worst case scenarios. Try to sit still and wait until the shaking stops. Avoid running or screaming as it can trigger chaos within your surrounding, causing harm to you and others.
Do Not Stay Inside A Building
If the magnitude of the tremor is strong, avoid at all costs remaining inside a building as it puts you at risk of being covered by falling debris and furniture.
Avoid standing near windows or heavy furniture. If you are on the upper floors of a building, move to the lowest level and take shelter under a sturdy piece of furniture like a table or desk to shield yourself from falling objects.
Avoid Running Outside
Running outside for safety could be your first trigger response to the danger posed by the tremor, but is extremely unsafe in the event of falling debris dislodged by the quake. Stay put and wait until the tremor stops, and when in danger, seek shelter under a sturdy piece of furniture.
Avoid Using the Elevator
The chances of an elevator malfunctioning during an earth tremor are extremely high as they get can stuck between floors. Try using the stairs to evacuate the building.
Do not stay near windows
During an intense earth tremors , windows could easily shatter causing severe injuries. Stay away from windows, glass doors, and other fragile materials. Instead Seek shelter under a sturdy piece of furniture.
After the tremor, refrain from doing these things:
Avoid unnecessarily using your phone
Experiencing a tremor is a rare experience , and grabbing your phone is almost like a knee-jerk reaction to either contact your loved ones or emergency services. It is advisable to wait until the tremor stops, as it may congest mobile networks and hindering emergency services from maintaing communication with those affected.
Avoid Turning On Eletrical Applicances
Electricity lines may be affected following the quake, putting you at risk of electrocution when handling electrical appliances. It is best to allow some time between the time when the tremor stopped and plugging in your appliance , or in severe cases, wait until the power supplying authority offers an update on the same.
The same applies for appliances connected to LPG gas, as the tremor could interfere with the connection causing a leak. It is important to first assess the situation before operating cookers and ovens to avoid igniting a fire.
Avoid spreading misinformation online
After the tremor that shook Kenyans on Tuesday night, social media platforms were filled with all sorts of information regarding the tremor which could potentially be very dangerous as it leads to panic and confusion. Share accurate information from credible resources to avoid generating rumors.
Remember to also check on the wellbeing of friends and family.
It is recommended to follow the above suggestions to save yours and other people’s lives, as well as to be prepared in the recurrence of another tremor.
