Mag. 4.4 earthquake – Harari, 40 km southeast of Metehara, Oromiya, Ethiopia, on Saturday, Dec 21, 2024, at 11:20 am (GMT +3)
Updated: Dec 22, 2024 03:50 GMT
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Moderate magnitude 4.4 earthquake at 10 km depth
21 Dec 10:38 UTC: First to report: EMSC after 2 hours and 17 minutes.
I didn’t feel it
I felt this quake
Earthquake details
| Date & time | Dec 21, 2024 08:20:39 UTC – 21 hours ago |
| Local time at epicenter | Saturday, Dec 21, 2024, at 11:20 am (GMT +3) |
| Status | Confirmed (manually revised) |
| Magnitude | 4.4 |
| Depth | 10 km |
| Epicenter latitude / longitude | 8.72°N / 40.23°E Harari, Ethiopia |
| Seismic antipode | 8.72°S / 139.77°W French Polynesia |
| Shaking intensity | IV Light shaking near epicenter |
| Felt | 2 reports |
| Primary data source | EMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre) |
| Nearest volcano | Fantale (43 km / 27 mi) |
| Estimated seismic energy released | 2.5 x 1011 joules (69.8 megawatt hours, equivalent to 60 tons of TNT) | about seismic energy |
500 km
500 mi
Leaflet | © Esri— Sources: GEBCO, NOAA, CHS, OSU, UNH, CSUMB, National Geographic, DeLorme, NAVTEQ, and Esri
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Most recent quakes Top 20 past 24 hrs Quakes in Ethiopia
Nearby places
The closest larger town where the quake might have been felt is Āsbe Teferī, a town with 31,000 inhabitants in Ethiopia, in 81 km (50 mi) distance northeast of the epicenter. People likely experienced weak shaking there. Several smaller towns and villages are located closer to the epicenter and might have experienced stronger shaking. In the capital of 
Djibouti, Djibouti, 451 km (280 mi) away from the epicenter, the earthquake could not be felt.
The following table shows some of the places that might have been affected (or not) by the shaking.
Distance | Place | Max. shaking intensity(*) | Region | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 km (19 mi)N of epicenter | Āwash(pop: 11,400) | IV: Light | Āfar | Ethiopia |
| 33 km (21 mi)E of epicenter | Gelemso(pop: 16,100) | III: Weak | Oromiya | Ethiopia |
| 40 km (25 mi)NW of epicenter | Metehara(pop: 23,400) | III: Weak | Oromiya | Ethiopia |
| 64 km (40 mi)E of epicenter | Bedēsa(pop: 17,500) | III: Weak | Oromiya | Ethiopia |
| 81 km (50 mi)NE of epicenter | Āsbe Teferī(pop: 30,800) | III: Weak | Oromiya | Ethiopia |
| 94 km (58 mi)SW of epicenter | Sīrē(pop: 10,100) | III: Weak | Oromiya | Ethiopia |
| 108 km (67 mi)W of epicenter | Nazrēt(pop: 214,000) | II: Very weak | Oromiya | Ethiopia |
| 108 km (67 mi)W of epicenter | Wenjī(pop: 17,100) | II: Very weak | Oromiya | Ethiopia |
| 123 km (76 mi)W of epicenter | Mojo(pop: 34,500) | II: Very weak | Oromiya | Ethiopia |
| 131 km (82 mi)NW of epicenter | Debre Birhan(pop: 57,800) | II: Very weak | Amhara | Ethiopia |
| 138 km (86 mi)W of epicenter | Bishoftu(pop: 197,600) | II: Very weak | Oromiya | Ethiopia |
| 143 km (89 mi)N of epicenter | Abomsa(pop: 15,300) | II: Very weak | Amhara | Ethiopia |
| 166 km (103 mi)W of epicenter | Addis Ababa(pop: 2,757,700) | II: Very weak | Addis Ababa | Ethiopia |
| 179 km (111 mi)W of epicenter | Sebeta(pop: 19,500) | II: Very weak | Oromiya | Ethiopia |
| 184 km (114 mi)S of epicenter | Ghinnir(pop: 16,800) | II: Very weak | Oromiya | Ethiopia |
| 188 km (117 mi)SW of epicenter | Ziway(pop: 49,400) | II: Very weak | Oromiya | Ethiopia |
| 191 km (119 mi)S of epicenter | Goba(pop: 34,400) | II: Very weak | Oromiya | Ethiopia |
| 194 km (121 mi)W of epicenter | Holeta(pop: 23,800) | II: Very weak | Oromiya | Ethiopia |
| 204 km (126 mi)NW of epicenter | Fichē(pop: 25,800) | II: Very weak | Oromiya | Ethiopia |
| 204 km (127 mi)NE of epicenter | Dire Dawa(pop: 252,300) | II: Very weak | Dire Dawa | Ethiopia |
| 213 km (132 mi)SW of epicenter | Āsasa(pop: 23,800) | II: Very weak | Oromiya | Ethiopia |
| 216 km (134 mi)W of epicenter | Butajīra(pop: 30,500) | II: Very weak | SNNPR | Ethiopia |
| 218 km (135 mi)E of epicenter | Kharar(pop: 90,200) | II: Very weak | Harari | Ethiopia |
| 226 km (140 mi)N of epicenter | Kemisē(pop: 23,900) | II: Very weak | Amhara | Ethiopia |
| 234 km (145 mi)NW of epicenter | Gebre Guracha(pop: 16,600) | II: Very weak | Oromiya | Ethiopia |
| 247 km (153 mi)SW of epicenter | Shashamane(pop: 85,900) | II: Very weak | Oromiya | Ethiopia |
| 250 km (155 mi)W of epicenter | Walliso(pop: 38,400) | II: Very weak | Oromiya | Ethiopia |
| 263 km (164 mi)W of epicenter | Hāgere Hiywet(pop: 43,900) | II: Very weak | Oromiya | Ethiopia |
| 267 km (166 mi)SW of epicenter | Awasa(pop: 133,100) | II: Very weak | SNNPR | Ethiopia |
| 268 km (167 mi)N of epicenter | Cambolcia(pop: 125,700) | II: Very weak | Amhara | Ethiopia |
| 276 km (171 mi)N of epicenter | Batī(pop: 19,300) | II: Very weak | Amhara | Ethiopia |
| 276 km (172 mi)N of epicenter | Dessie(pop: 136,100) | II: Very weak | Amhara | Ethiopia |
| 283 km (176 mi)SW of epicenter | Alaba(pop: 25,600) | II: Very weak | SNNPR | Ethiopia |
| 291 km (181 mi)E of epicenter | Jijiga(pop: 56,800) | II: Very weak | Somali | Ethiopia |
| 292 km (182 mi)SW of epicenter | Hosa’ina(pop: 76,000) | I: Not felt | SNNPR | Ethiopia |
| 297 km (184 mi)SW of epicenter | Dalle(pop: 36,300) | I: Not felt | SNNPR | Ethiopia |
| 328 km (204 mi)NW of epicenter | Debre Mark’os(pop: 59,900) | I: Not felt | Amhara | Ethiopia |
| 342 km (212 mi)SW of epicenter | Sodo(pop: 86,100) | I: Not felt | SNNPR | Ethiopia |
| 451 km (280 mi)NE of epicenter | Djibouti(pop: 623,900) | I: Not felt | Djibouti | Djibouti |
Notes:
(*) Shaking intensity according to the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI) and estimated using seismic models.
User-reports for this quake (3)
So far, we have received 3 reports for this quake from Ethiopia. Out of these, 2 people indicated they felt it. The quake was reported to have been felt in up to approx. 170 km (106 mi) distance.
Most reports came from Addis Ababa (1 report), the capital of Ethiopia with 2,800,000 inhabitants in 166 km (103 mi) distance west of the epicenter, and Metehara (1 report) (40 km or 25 mi to the northwest), a town with 23,000 inhabitants in Oromiya. Further below is a list of places where most people reported this quake.
This section is being updated as new data comes in.
User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale.
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Leave a comment if you find a particular report interesting or want to add to it.
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Translate
Metehara (39 km WNW of epicenter) [Map] / Very strong shaking (MMI VII) : I am working this time so i think All of body vibration that time
awash 7 (166.8 km W of epicenter) [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s : it was so fearful budling that i was their was shaking
Addis Ababa (168.2 km W of epicenter) [Map] / not felt (reported through our app)
List of cities/places with most reports
| Place | Distance from epicenter | Average reported Shaking Intensity | Nr. of reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia(Pop.: 2,757,729) | 166 km (103 mi)W of epicenter | III: Weak shaking | 1 |
| Metehara, Oromiya, Ethiopia(Pop.: 23,403) | 40 km (25 mi)NW of epicenter | VII: Very strong shaking | 1 |
Note: Only reports with latitude/longitude coordinate positions given (3 in total) could be used for statistics.
What is Intensity and the Mercalli Intensity Scale?
The amount of shaking that occurs on the surface due to an earthquake is called the intensity. It is commonly measured on the so-called Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI) ranging from 1 (not felt) to 10 (extreme shaking), and given in Roman numerals as I,II,…IX, X, and often displayed with color codes ranging from light blue to dark red.
Earthquake intensity depends mainly on the magnitude and depth of the quake as well as the distance from the epicenter: The further away, the less shaking intensity occurs.
Read more about the MMI scale!
Number of reports by intensity
| Shaking intensity | Number of reports | Min-Max distance from epicenter (*) | Average distance (*) |
|---|---|---|---|
| I: Not felt | 1 | 168–168 km (104–104 mi) | 168 km (104 mi) |
| III: Weak shaking | 1 | 167–167 km (104–104 mi) | 167 km (104 mi) |
Notes
(*) Reports are filtered to exclude those that are likely highly inaccurate or esaggerated.
Only reports with latitude/longitude coordinate positions given (3 in total) could be used for geographic statistics.
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I felt this quake
If you were near the epicenter and felt it, please share your experience and submit a short “I felt it” report! Other users would love to hear about it!
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Compare Quake Data
Data for the same earthquake as reported by different agencies
The more agencies report about the same quake and post similar data, the more confidence you can have in the data. It takes normally up to a few hours until earthquake parameters are calculated with near-optimum precision.
| Mag | Depth | Time GMT2024-12-21 | Epicenter | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.4 | 10 km6.2 mi(*) | 08:20:39 | Ethiopia | EMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre) |
Notes:
(*) A depth given as 10 km often means that the the depth of the quake could be not determined with sufficient accuracy.
Seismograms
Seismic station: Mt. Furi, Ethiopia (FURI/IU network) | Distance from quake: 171 km / 107 mi | Show on map | Station Info
Seismogram (vertical component) around time of quake. Thin dotted red line indicates time of quake. Seismic waves arrive some time later, depending on distance. Bandpass filter applied: 0.2-10.0 Hz. Source: IRIS Buffer of Uniform Data (BUD) webtool
Aftershocks for this quake
No aftershocks have been recorded so far. When aftershocks are detected, we will update this section.
What are aftershocks?
Larger earthquakes (above magnitude 5 or so) such as this one are usually followed by smaller ones known as aftershocks that occur in the same area during the days, weeks, months or even years after the main shock.
[More info]
What about this quake?
Based on its magnitude, the fault that was active during the quake likely ruptured beneath a surface of approx. 3 km2 (=1 sqare miles) as a first-order estimate. The length of the rupture zone thus was probably around 3 km (2 mi).
[More info]
Recorded aftershocks, latest first (0 quake)
Date and Time GMT | Mag Depth | Distance | Region | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 21, 2024 11:20 am (GMT +3) 19 hours ago – felt | 4.4 10 km | 0 km – This quake | EthiopiaMain Shock (this quake) | More |
Map of aftershocks
Earthquake statistics
Average number of earthquakes
Based on data from the past 54 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900, there are about 2.2 quakes on average per year in the area near the epicenter of this quake (within 100 km/61 mi):
- Mag. 4 or higher: 2.2 quakes per year
- Mag. 3 or higher: 2.2 quakes per year
- Mag. 2 or higher: 2.2 quakes per year
The area where this quake occurred has relatively few earthquakes. However, It has had at least 16 quakes above magnitude 4 since 2018, which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently, probably on average approximately every 1 to 5 years.
Number of quakes per year
| Year | — |
|---|---|
| Earthquakes M2+ | — |
| Earthquakes M3+ | — |
| Earthquakes M4+ | — |
Previous quakes in the same area of this earthquake
The earthquake occurred 7 weeks after a magnitude 4.7 earthquake had hit on Sunday, Nov 3, 2024, at 12:04 am local time (Africa/Addis Ababa GMT +3) in 59 km (37 mi) distance to the north:
Mag. 4.7 earthquake Āfar – Oromiya, Ethiopia – Nov 3, 2024 –
The largest quake near the epicenter of this quake during the 10 years before was an event of magnitude 4.9. It had occurred 11 weeks earlier, on Sunday, Oct 6, 2024, at 08:10 pm local time (Africa/Addis Ababa GMT +3) in Harari, Ethiopia
:
Mag. 4.9 earthquake Harari – Oromiya, Ethiopia – Oct 6, 2024 –
The strongest-ever (since 1900) recorded quake in this area measured magnitude 6.0. It had occurred 86 years ago earlier, on Sunday, Sep 18, 1938, at 03:38 am local time (Africa/Addis Ababa GMT +3) in Āfar, Ethiopia
:
Mag. 6.0 earthquake 47 km NE of ?wash – Ethiopia – Sep 18, 1938 –
Below is a list and map of (larger or recent) quakes that had occurred near the area of the epicenter before this earthquake (within up to 100 km/61 mi distance, up to 300 km/183 mi for very large quakes above mag. 7). Filter the list to limit the number to show, by magnitude or time before.
Map to embed or share
https://www.volcanoesandearthquakes.com/app/earthquakemap/earthquakeMap.php?quakeId=10042736
On this page:
Overview – Mag. 4.4 Quake
Earthquake Details and Map
Nearby places
User-reports for this quake (3)
Compare Quake Data
Seismograms
Aftershocks for this quake
Earthquake statistics
Previous Quakes Nearby