What the record shows for Montenegro
The strongest earthquake on record near Montenegro is a magnitude 6.9 in 1979, centred 6 km E of Stari Bar, Montenegro - 47 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 459 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Montenegro - roughly 23 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 22 tsunamis within 300 km of Montenegro between -58 and 1979. The most significant was in 1667 near Dalmatian Coasts, triggered by an M7.2 earthquake, which killed around 5,000 people.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Montenegro’s Adriatic coast is one of the most seismically active areas in the Balkans.
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 Montenegro.
Earthquake risk in Montenegro - FAQ
Is Montenegro at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 23 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 M6.9 in 1979.
What was the biggest earthquake in Montenegro?
The strongest earthquake on record near Montenegro is M6.9, in 1979 (6 km E of Stari Bar, Montenegro), from USGS.
Does Montenegro get tsunamis?
Yes - 22 tsunamis since 58 BC (most recently 1979) within 300 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 5,000 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Montenegro?
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.