What the record shows for Tanzania
The strongest earthquake on record near Tanzania is a magnitude 6.5 in 1964, centred 28 km W of Dongobesh, Tanzania - 62 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 189 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 389 km of Tanzania - roughly 10 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 Tanzania 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.
9 volcanoes are catalogued near Tanzania, including SW Usangu Basin, Unnamed, Ngozi, Izumbwe-Mpoli, Rungwe, Kyejo and 3 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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Tanzania 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 Tanzania.
Earthquake risk in Tanzania - FAQ
Is Tanzania at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 10 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 1964.
What was the biggest earthquake in Tanzania?
The strongest earthquake on record near Tanzania is M6.5, in 1964 (28 km W of Dongobesh, Tanzania), from USGS.
Does Tanzania get tsunamis?
No tsunamis are recorded within 389 km of Tanzania in the NOAA database - though coastlines everywhere carry some residual risk after a very large offshore quake.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Tanzania?
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.