Geology 9 - WK3 - Earthquakes

 Seismic Activity of the East African Rift System

        Seismic activity of the East African Rift System (EARS) is characterized by shallow normal faults that occur due to earthquake rupturing from the extension of the crust and volcano-tectonic earthquakes. Volcano-tectonic earthquakes occur as a result of regular tectonic forces, stresses caused by shifting magma and movement of liquids between existing crevices. Kenya is home to twenty-one volcanoes that have shaped its landscape over millennia. Pictured below is Menengai Caldera, which is the largest volcano caldera in Kenya.
 May be an image of crater

The Subukia Valley Earthquake of 1928

        Subukia Valley is situated within the Kenya (Gregory) Rift valley which is known to experience large, infrequent earthquakes. The Subukia Valley earthquake is the largest known to have occurred in Kenya at a magnitude 6.9. The earthquake was felt within a 460km radius, it occurred in a sparsely populated region and caused only minor damages to man made structures. Four days later the region experienced an aftershock measuring 6.0. Local housing has been constructed to have inherent resistance to earthquake shaking which is a major contributor to seismic damage mitigation in the region.
 

Websites for Earthquake Monitoring/Tracking

        There are many useful resources on the internet to get updated information on seismic activity:
  • https://earthquakelist.org/kenya/#all-latest-earthquakes
  • http://ds.iris.edu/seismon/
  • http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/ 

How to Drop, Cover, and Hold on During an Earthquake | SureFire CPR 

     Sources:

Ambraseys, N. N. Earthquake Hazard in the Kenya Rift: The Subukia Earthquake 1928 | Geophysical Journal International | Oxford Academic, academic.oup.com/gji/article/105/1/253/670480. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

“Caldera.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Dec. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caldera.

Douglas, Andrew. “East African Rift.” WorldAtlas, WorldAtlas, 9 Sept. 2023, www.worldatlas.com/geography/east-african-rift.html.

Earthquake Hazards Program, earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/iscgem908452/region-info. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.

“East African Rift.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Jan. 2026, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_African_Rift#/media/File:Tectonical_map_of_East_Africa.png.

“Great Rift Valley, Kenya.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 Nov. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Rift_Valley,_Kenya.

“Great Rift Valley.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 Feb. 2026, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Rift_Valley.

“How to Drop, Cover, and Hold on during an Earthquake .” SureFire CPR, 19 Jan. 2024, surefirecpr.com/emergency-tips/how-to-drop-cover-and-hold-on-during-an-earthquake/?srsltid=AfmBOoo4RfrwuH1VMnLZCFp2KADCOlQlQqrmyQ4kVN9F4X-oUqENZkLs.

“Kenya Earthquake Report.” The Complete Kenya Earthquake Report (up-to-Date 2026)., earthquakelist.org/kenya/#all-latest-earthquakes. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.


 
   

 

 
 
 

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