What the record shows for Ethiopia
The strongest earthquake on record near Ethiopia is a magnitude 6.5 in 1906, centred 8 km E of Goba, Ethiopia - 120 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 375 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 389 km of Ethiopia - roughly 19 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 389 km of Ethiopia 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.
40 volcanoes are catalogued near Ethiopia, including Fentale, Beru, Kone, Dofan, Unnamed, Liado Hayk and 34 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.
Popular
Ethiopia sits on the East African Rift, where the continent is slowly splitting 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 Ethiopia.
Earthquake risk in Ethiopia - FAQ
Is Ethiopia at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 19 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 389 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M6.5 in 1906.
What was the biggest earthquake in Ethiopia?
The strongest earthquake on record near Ethiopia is M6.5, in 1906 (8 km E of Goba, Ethiopia), from USGS.
Does Ethiopia get tsunamis?
No tsunamis are recorded within 389 km of Ethiopia in the NOAA database - though coastlines everywhere carry some residual risk after a very large offshore quake.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Ethiopia?
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.