Magnitude 4.5 earthquake hits northern Ethiopia

A 4.5-magnitude earthquake struck northern Ethiopia on Monday evening, with tremors felt by residents of Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region, as well as several surrounding cities and towns. Emergency teams immediately began an initial assessment of the situation, while no immediate reports of casualties or major damage had been received at the time of publication.

According to data from the Global Disaster awareness and Coordination System (GDACS), citing the U.S. National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC), the earthquake occurred at 0:05 UTC (23:05 local time), at an estimated depth of around 10 kilometers. Preliminary assessments classified the expected humanitarian impact as “low,” given the quake’s magnitude and the population size within the zone of moderate shaking.

Local residents reported feeling the tremor in Mekelle, while similar reports were recorded from several cities and towns across Tigray, including Adigrat, Axum, Shire, Maychew, Wukro, Adi Gudom, Adi Hageray (“Adiqa Hamos”), and Adwa, as well as neighboring areas in the Afar region.

GDACS estimates indicate that approximately 10,000 people may have been exposed to shaking classified as MMI V, a level typically associated with clearly felt tremors inside buildings and the possibility of minor damage in some cases, without necessarily implying widespread losses, particularly as field assessments remain ongoing and conditions vary from one area to another.

Local sources confirmed that emergency and response teams are following up on reports from affected areas and working to verify the safety of residents and critical infrastructure. Initial information suggests no signs of widespread service disruptions or major structural collapses.

The latest quake comes just months after a stronger earthquake hit northern Ethiopia. According to archived GDACS reports citing ECHO updates in October 2025, a 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck the region on 11 October 2025, causing damage to homes and public infrastructure in both Afar and Tigray. That earthquake resulted in the death of a 12-year-old child in Berhale district, Afar region, and injuries to nine others. More than 1,400 homes and 12 public facilities — including schools and health centers — were damaged, along with over 150 water sources.

Local authority estimates at the time indicated that around 43,000 people in five villages required assistance. In Tigray, Mekelle was also affected, with 40 houses damaged and five completely destroyed, impacting approximately 225 people. Reports warned that aftershocks had increased risks to already damaged buildings and heightened the vulnerability of local communities.

While Monday’s earthquake was less powerful than the October 2025 event, risk management experts generally stress that repeated seismic activity underscores the need for ongoing assessments of building and infrastructure safety, particularly in areas previously affected by damage.

Local authorities and disaster management bodies in Tigray and Afar are expected to issue further updates should surveys identify structural damage or urgent humanitarian needs, as seismic monitoring continues and reports from residents in affected areas are reviewed.