What the record shows for DR Congo
The strongest earthquake on record near DR Congo is a magnitude 6.5 in 1960, centred 19 km SW of Uvira, Democratic Republic of the Congo - 66 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 146 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 666 km of DR Congo - roughly 7 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 1 tsunami within 666 km of DR Congo (most recently 1938). The most significant was in 1938 near Nyamuragira.
6 volcanoes are catalogued near DR Congo, including Tshibinda, Nyamulagira, Nyiragongo, Karisimbi, May-ya-moto, Visoke. 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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Eastern DR Congo lies on the active western branch of the East African Rift, near the Virunga volcanoes.
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 DR Congo.
Earthquake risk in DR Congo - FAQ
Is DR Congo at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 7 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 666 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M6.5 in 1960.
What was the biggest earthquake in DR Congo?
The strongest earthquake on record near DR Congo is M6.5, in 1960 (19 km SW of Uvira, Democratic Republic of the Congo), from USGS.
Does DR Congo get tsunamis?
Yes - 1 tsunami since 1938 (most recently 1938) within 666 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in DR Congo?
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.