An earthquake hit northwestern Tanzania on Thursday, and people across East Africa felt it. The Eastleigh Voice reported tremors in Kigali, Mwanza, Kampala and Nairobi. According to the monitoring platform Volcano Discovery, the quake struck near Ushirombo in Geita Region. It was about 10 kilometres deep.
Seismic agencies gave different early readings. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) first put the magnitude at 5.1. It placed the quake about 12 miles northwest of Masumbwe and recorded it at 12:22 pm East Africa Time. Germany's GFZ research centre reported a magnitude of 5.2. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) first recorded 5.6, then revised that to 5.2. EMSC put the epicentre about 17 kilometres east of Ushirombo, roughly 986 kilometres from Nairobi.
The Rwanda Seismic Monitor gave the highest reading. It said on X that it recorded a 6.4 Richter scale quake near Ushirombo, 292 kilometres from Kigali, at 11:22. The agency said the shaking lasted 30 seconds and was felt in parts of Rwanda. "No damage has been reported so far; follow-up is ongoing," it said.
In Kenya, residents of Nairobi, Murang'a, Kiambu and Kajiado reported feeling a tremor at about 12:27 pm. Experts have not confirmed this. Some people said on social media that buildings and the ground shook for a few seconds. A Facebook user in Kisii town said they felt the tremors there. Another wrote that he "thought the building was going down". Others said they felt nothing unusual.
Volcano Discovery said shallow quakes are often felt more strongly because they happen closer to the surface. It estimated moderate shaking in Masumbwe and Ushirombo, and weaker shaking in Buseresere, Katoro, Kahama and Geita. The platform said major damage was unlikely. Still, objects could fall from shelves and windows could break near the epicentre.
Seismologists are still reviewing the data, so the magnitude, location and depth could change. The USGS said new information could also alter its severity map.