Date: 2021-06-08

Earth-tremor of low magnitude has rocked Omu-Aran, the headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area in Kwara State.

A document obtained by The Nation on Monday dated 6th June 2021 by the Department of Geophysics, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State stated the earth tremor occurred on Saturday 5th, June 2021.

Professor Adepelumi Abraham, who signed the document titled: “Preliminary report on the 5th June, 2021 Earth-Tremor recorded at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Osun State, Nigeria”, reports that “An earth-tremor of low magnitude occurred in Nigeria at 11:11:25.6 am (GMT) on 5th June, 2021. The origin time is 11:11.08.2 am (GMT) (Figures 1 to 3).

"The estimated epicentral distance (D) is placed between 108 and 113 km away from the measuring station at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

"The S wave particle motion generally trends N – S and NE – SW (Figure 4). This suggests that the wave is traveling perpendicular to the particle motion. Hence, the epicenter is somewhere along the NW-SE direction of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

"Using Single Station, the epicenter is roughly place closed to Omu-Aran Kwara State at Latitude (Y) 8o 06’18.0’ N, and Longitude (X) 4o 59’20.4’ E (Figures 5 to 7).

"The estimated focal depth is 15.0 km. 'The Moment magnitude (Mw) is 2.6 on the Richter scale.

"The Local magnitude (ML) is 2.4 on the Richter scale.

"ls A normal fault mechanism along the Ifewara-Zungeru Transcurrent Fault system due to INTRAPLATE SEISMICITY was deduced. This suggests that this fault system is still active.

“The fault that caused the Earth-tremor has a Stress drop of 5.9 bar.”