After heavy rains and seismic works on Monday, March 19, a huge rift formed in the East African Rift Valley, which indicates the coming continental transformations.
The rift stretches for 3000 kilometers in Kenya's Narok district. Its depth and width are over 15 meters.
Geologists say that after a few million years, the African continent will split into two parts, along with the Somali tectonic plate, which moves away from the Nubian by 6-7 millimeters per year, and in the south - at a rate of 2.5 centimeters per year. The first includes the Great Rift Valley, which stretches from the Horn of Africa to Mozambique.
Observing the African Rift Valley, scientists mark the stages of the continental rift. According to Kenyan geologist David Ahed, the movement of the earth has created weak spots where fault lines and fissures are formed that are usually filled with volcanic ash, presumably from the nearby Longonot volcano.
In his opinion, the source of the movements is the Susva shield volcano, which lies at the base of the Great Rift Valley with its history of tectonic and volcanic activity.
“You cannot stop the geological process because it comes from deep in the earth's crust,” he said, adding that more research is needed to understand the geology of the area and to map fault lines.
The fault formed at the beginning of last week affected the busy road Mai Mahyu - Narok. The Kenyan government has instructed the site to be filled with rocks and cement so that vehicles can continue on their way. Houses in the area were also torn in two, including the home of an elderly woman who was having lunch with her family when the ground opened beneath her feet.
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