What the record shows for Libya
The strongest earthquake on record near Libya is a magnitude 6.8 in 1935, centred near the coast of Libya - 91 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 0 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 555 km of Libya - about one every Infinity years. 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 555 km of Libya 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.
2 volcanoes are catalogued near Libya, including Haruj, Wau-en-Namus. 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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Northern Libya experiences earthquakes related to the Africa–Eurasia plate boundary.
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 Libya.
Earthquake risk in Libya - FAQ
Is Libya at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 1 quake every infinity years nearby of magnitude 4+ within 555 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M6.8 in 1935.
What was the biggest earthquake in Libya?
The strongest earthquake on record near Libya is M6.8, in 1935 (near the coast of Libya), from USGS.
Does Libya get tsunamis?
No tsunamis are recorded within 555 km of Libya in the NOAA database - though coastlines everywhere carry some residual risk after a very large offshore quake.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Libya?
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.