What the record shows for Djibouti
The strongest earthquake on record near Djibouti is a magnitude 6.5 in 1989, centred 12 km ENE of Gâlâfi, Djibouti - 37 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 332 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Djibouti - roughly 17 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.
No tsunamis are recorded within 300 km of Djibouti in the NOAA NCEI database. A quiet record is not the same as no exposure - a large enough offshore earthquake can reach coastlines that have never been hit in the historical period.
42 volcanoes are catalogued near Djibouti, including Ardoukoba, Manda-Inakir, Mousa Alli, Gufa, Dama Ali, Manda Gargori and 36 more. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Djibouti sits on the Afar Triple Junction, where three tectonic plates pull apart.
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 Djibouti.
Earthquake risk in Djibouti - FAQ
Is Djibouti at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 17 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 M6.5 in 1989.
What was the biggest earthquake in Djibouti?
The strongest earthquake on record near Djibouti is M6.5, in 1989 (12 km ENE of Gâlâfi, Djibouti), from USGS.
Does Djibouti get tsunamis?
No tsunamis are recorded within 300 km of Djibouti in the NOAA database - though coastlines everywhere carry some residual risk after a very large offshore quake.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Djibouti?
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.