Earthquake tremors in East Africa cause panic, no casualties reported
Earthquakes, the strongest measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale, have been rattling north-east Tanzania for the past five days. The earthquakes were felt in some World Vision operational areas in the country and triggered strong tremors in neighbouring Kenya.
The World Vision Tanzania Head office in Arusha and 11 of the 13 Area Development Programs situated in the northern part of Tanzania experienced the shocks, but no casualties have been reported in or outside World Vision’s operational areas.
“At about 5.00p.m on Monday I felt the earth shaking and things were moving all over the house. Even this morning I felt it again and I have been discussing it with my friends in school. I’m not worried because it has already happened,” said World Vision supported child, John Muya, from Kenya’s Mashuru ADP in the Rift Valley.
“We are sending out guidelines on rapid onset preparedness and response plans. We are requesting each of the offices in the region to activate their National Rapid Response Teams and have the National Emergency Preparedness Response Fund ready in case the situation warrants,” said Beatrice Teya, World Vision’s Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs team leader in East Africa.
The Africa HEA team is discussing the possibility of setting up a pre-crisis team just in case the trend continues.
World Vision International President, Dean Hirsch was visiting the World Vision Tanzania office in Arusha on Monday, a day after the first tremor. Dr. Hirsch’s planned visits to Sanya and Ruvu Muungano were unaffected.
The World Vision Africa security and staff safety team has sent guidelines to World Vision staff in Nairobi actions in the event of earthquakes.
“People have been sending panicked text messages. Our appeal to staff is that they should remain calm and be vigilant. The security department is monitoring the situation and will keep you updated,” said World Vision Kenya security officer Moses Githinji.
Kenya government officials have dispelled a rumour that the American Embassy in Nairobi has issued a warning to staff of an impending earthquake in Nairobi.
East Africa’s Rift Valley runs along a geological fault line, that renders areas in range vulnerable to the shifting of various earth strata. Kenya Government officials say the recent tremors are not related to any movement of the Rift Valley’s structure. Seismologists attribute the tremors to volcanic activity under Oldonyo Lengai Mountain, an active volcano south of Lake Natron in Tanzania.
Oldonyo Lengai Mountain has been associated with volcanic activity recently. In 1966, the mountain experienced a major eruption and in 1988, an eruption resulted in silent lava flows.
In December 2005, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake shook vast parts of East Africa, including Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.
The World Vision Tanzania Head office in Arusha and 11 of the 13 Area Development Programs situated in the northern part of Tanzania experienced the shocks, but no casualties have been reported in or outside World Vision’s operational areas.
“At about 5.00p.m on Monday I felt the earth shaking and things were moving all over the house. Even this morning I felt it again and I have been discussing it with my friends in school. I’m not worried because it has already happened,” said World Vision supported child, John Muya, from Kenya’s Mashuru ADP in the Rift Valley.
“We are sending out guidelines on rapid onset preparedness and response plans. We are requesting each of the offices in the region to activate their National Rapid Response Teams and have the National Emergency Preparedness Response Fund ready in case the situation warrants,” said Beatrice Teya, World Vision’s Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs team leader in East Africa.
The Africa HEA team is discussing the possibility of setting up a pre-crisis team just in case the trend continues.
World Vision International President, Dean Hirsch was visiting the World Vision Tanzania office in Arusha on Monday, a day after the first tremor. Dr. Hirsch’s planned visits to Sanya and Ruvu Muungano were unaffected.
The World Vision Africa security and staff safety team has sent guidelines to World Vision staff in Nairobi actions in the event of earthquakes.
“People have been sending panicked text messages. Our appeal to staff is that they should remain calm and be vigilant. The security department is monitoring the situation and will keep you updated,” said World Vision Kenya security officer Moses Githinji.
Kenya government officials have dispelled a rumour that the American Embassy in Nairobi has issued a warning to staff of an impending earthquake in Nairobi.
East Africa’s Rift Valley runs along a geological fault line, that renders areas in range vulnerable to the shifting of various earth strata. Kenya Government officials say the recent tremors are not related to any movement of the Rift Valley’s structure. Seismologists attribute the tremors to volcanic activity under Oldonyo Lengai Mountain, an active volcano south of Lake Natron in Tanzania.
Oldonyo Lengai Mountain has been associated with volcanic activity recently. In 1966, the mountain experienced a major eruption and in 1988, an eruption resulted in silent lava flows.
In December 2005, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake shook vast parts of East Africa, including Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.
by Geoffrey Denye and Mkama Mwijarubi and Patterson Siema - Communications - East Africa Area Office, Tanzania Office and Kenya Office.
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