What the record shows for Bhutan
The strongest earthquake on record near Bhutan is a magnitude 7.0 in 1930, centred 28 km SSW of Lakhipur, India - 96 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 293 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Bhutan - roughly 15 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 2 tsunamis within 300 km of Bhutan between 1897 and 2023. The most significant was in 1897 near Assam, triggered by an M8.0 earthquake, which killed around 1,542 people.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Bhutan sits directly on the seismically active Himalayan collision front.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Bhutan.
Earthquake risk in Bhutan - FAQ
Is Bhutan at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 15 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 300 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M7.0 in 1930.
What was the biggest earthquake in Bhutan?
The strongest earthquake on record near Bhutan is M7.0, in 1930 (28 km SSW of Lakhipur, India), from USGS.
Does Bhutan get tsunamis?
Yes - 2 tsunamis since 1897 (most recently 2023) within 300 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 1,542 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Bhutan?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.