What the record shows for Ecuador
The strongest earthquake on record near Ecuador is a magnitude 8.8 in 1906, centred 1906 Ecuador-Colombia Earthquake - 120 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 861 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Ecuador - roughly 43 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 6 tsunamis within 300 km of Ecuador between 1797 and 2016. The most significant was in 1906 near Off Coast, triggered by an M8.8 earthquake, which killed around 1,000 people.
24 volcanoes are catalogued near Ecuador, including Tungurahua, Licto, Chimborazo, Sangay, Quilotoa, Cotopaxi and 18 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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Ecuador sits on an active subduction zone and a chain of volcanoes in the Andes.
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 Ecuador.
Earthquake risk in Ecuador - FAQ
Is Ecuador at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 43 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 M8.8 in 1906.
What was the biggest earthquake in Ecuador?
The strongest earthquake on record near Ecuador is M8.8, in 1906 (1906 Ecuador-Colombia Earthquake), from USGS.
Does Ecuador get tsunamis?
Yes - 6 tsunamis since 1797 (most recently 2016) within 300 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 1,000 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Ecuador?
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.