Kenya earthquakes

M4.7 earthquake 21 km SSW of Athi River, Kenya

A magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck 21 km SSW of Athi River, Kenya on Wed, Apr 5, 1978, 8:46 PM GMT+3 (17:46 UTC), 25 km (16 mi) below the surface.

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Map

Where this earthquake was located, with the others nearby. Select one for its page.

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The earthquake

Magnitude
4.7 (mb), light
Local time
UTC
1978-04-05 17:46:10 UTC
Depth
25.0 km (15.5 mi), shallow
Epicenter
1.647° S, 36.937° E
Region
Kenya
Strongest shaking
VI, strong shaking
Tsunami flag
No
Status
Reviewed by a seismologist

Shaking

The USGS ShakeMap: shaking estimated from seismic stations and the quake’s size, on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale.

Strongest estimated
VI, strong shaking
Peak ground acceleration
34.1% of gravity
Peak ground velocity
2.5 cm/s
Map
Automatic
USGS ShakeMap: estimated shaking intensity around the epicenter
Estimated shaking intensity. Map: USGS ShakeMap.

Did you feel it?

No one has reported feeling this quake to the USGS.

How well it is located

Reviewed by a seismologist.

Stations used
27

Nearest places

Distance and direction from each place to the epicenter, with its forecast.

Nearby

Within 100 km, magnitude 1.7 and up: 0 in the 60 days after this one and 0 in the 30 days before it.

None recorded.

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Sources

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event usp0000txp. Read Mon, Sep 21, 2026, 10:10 AM UTC.