Panic as mini quake hits Bungoma, other parts of East Africa

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit northwest Tanzania Saturday, September 10 afternoon at depth of 10km and most parts of western Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda felt the tremor, the United States Geological Survey reported.

The tremors were reported in Bungoma, Kigali, Iganga, Mbarara, Kabale, Kampala and Bujumbura among many other towns in the region between 15:00 EAT and 16:30 EAT.

Brenda Nafula, a resident of Bungoma town who was in a boutique at the time of the tremor, told Citizen Digital that she felt a sudden shaking of the ground forcing her and other customers to scamper for safety.

She says confusion and fear gripped her – and that it took her nearly ten minutes to come around.

Dan Khayota, a cyber café owner in Bungoma town, says he was attending to his customers when he felt the tremor. He consequently took off, leaving his worried customers behind.

No damages or injuries have been reported so far. It is not yet clear what caused the tremor.

In January, 2016 another tremor hit parts of eastern Kenya region, throwing residents into shock but no injuries were reported.

Meru County Director of Meteorological Services, Nyaga Kaburu, said the tremor occurred at around 11.30pm January 10, 2016 and was felt in parts of Meru, Embu and Tharaka Nithi counties.