Nyamira student fractures legs after jumping off balcony during tremor

A Form One Student of Riyabe Secondary School in Nyamira County is nursing fractured limbs after he jumped from the second floor of a classroom block following an earth tremor experienced in parts of Nyanza on Thursday morning.

According to school principal Meshack Orure, the learner was among other students who were in class for their early morning studies when the tremor happened.

The tremor happened at around 4.48 am. 

Several other students also suffered slight injuries due stampede as they scampered for safety.

The Form One boy who was injured tried to jump down from the balcony of the classrooms and because of the impact, suffered fractured in the hand and the collarbone.

Orure said the student was the only one who suffered serious injuries and was rushed to Keroka Sub-county Hospital before being referred to Tenwek Mission Hospital in Bomet for specialised treatment.

Other students who were treated and discharged suffered bruises and trauma following the stampede.

The earth tremor that was reported to be of a magnitude of 4.7 on the Richter scale is said to have happened in Kenya and Tanzania.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the 4.7 magnitude tremor started at Tarime in neighbouring Tanzania with the aftershocks being felt in parts of Nyanza and Rift Valley.

Some regions in Kenya that experienced the uncontrollable rhythmic movement of the earth include Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Bomet, Kericho Siaya, Nandi and Kisumu.

A second report by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) also listed it as a magnitude 4.7 earthquake as well.

Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake was probably felt by many people in the area of the epicentre.

It should not have caused significant damage, other than objects falling from shelves, broken windows, etc.

In Tarime located 20 km from the epicentre, the quake should have been felt as light shaking.

Weak shaking might have been felt in Sirari located 36 km from the epicentre, Butiama, 45 km away, Musoma, 53 km away, and Bunda, 76 km away.