What the record shows for Rwanda
The strongest earthquake on record near Rwanda is a magnitude 6.5 in 1960, centred 19 km SW of Uvira, Democratic Republic of the Congo - 66 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 159 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Rwanda - 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 1 tsunami within 300 km of Rwanda (most recently 1938). The most significant was in 1938 near Nyamuragira.
13 volcanoes are catalogued near Rwanda, including Muhavura, Karisimbi, Visoke, Bufumbira, Nyiragongo, Nyamulagira and 7 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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Rwanda sits in the seismically active western branch of the East African Rift.
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 Rwanda.
Earthquake risk in Rwanda - FAQ
Is Rwanda 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 M6.5 in 1960.
What was the biggest earthquake in Rwanda?
The strongest earthquake on record near Rwanda is M6.5, in 1960 (19 km SW of Uvira, Democratic Republic of the Congo), from USGS.
Does Rwanda get tsunamis?
Yes - 1 tsunami since 1938 (most recently 1938) within 300 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Rwanda?
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.