What the record shows for Lebanon
The strongest earthquake on record near Lebanon is a magnitude 6.4 in 1918, centred 43 km WNW of ?ar??s, Syria - 108 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 157 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Lebanon - roughly 8 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 28 tsunamis within 300 km of Lebanon between -2000 and 2023. The most significant was in 115 near Antakya (Antioch), triggered by an M7.5 earthquake, which killed around 260,000 people.
5 volcanoes are catalogued near Lebanon, including Unnamed, Unnamed, Unnamed, Es Safa, Ash Shaam, Harrat. 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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Lebanon lies along the Dead Sea Transform, a major active fault system running through the Levant.
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 Lebanon.
Earthquake risk in Lebanon - FAQ
Is Lebanon at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 8 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 M6.4 in 1918.
What was the biggest earthquake in Lebanon?
The strongest earthquake on record near Lebanon is M6.4, in 1918 (43 km WNW of ?ar??s, Syria), from USGS.
Does Lebanon get tsunamis?
Yes - 28 tsunamis since 2000 BC (most recently 2023) within 300 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 260,000 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Lebanon?
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.