On Friday Evening an Unusually powerful M5.9 Earthquake struck near Metahāra in Ethiopia.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on February 14th, 2025. Last updated March 27th, 2025.

Under land 5 kilometer from Metahāra in Ethiopia, an unusually powerful Magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurred in the evening of Friday February 14th, 2025. Around 38 million people have been exposed to shaking.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Ethiopia, 5 kilometer (3 mi) north-northwest of Metahāra in Oromiya. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 25 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Feb 14, 2025 11:28PM (Addis Ababa Time) 40 days ago - Feb 14, 2025 20:28 Universal Time.
Location:	5 km NNW of Metahāra, Oromiya, Ethiopia. Coordinates 8°56'38"N 39°54'28"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.9 Detected by 51 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.043 .
Depth:	25 km (16 mi) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	VIII Severe On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Tsunami very unlikely While this was a shallow earthquake, it appears to have occurred under land with a magnitude not strong enough to cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

The US Geographic Survey (USGS) describes the impact of this earthquake as follows:

At least 2 persons injured; several homes, buildings and roads damaged; ground cracks reported in the Awash-Metahara-Oromiya area.

Based on scientific estimates by the USGS, the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 68% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 98% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 99% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact.

Roughly 38 million people exposed to shaking

An estimated 38 million have been exposed to shaking (An MMI or Modified Mercalli Intensity level II or higher) as a result of this earthquake according scientific estimates published by the USGS.

Severe shaking and likely moderate to heavy damage may have been experienced by an estimated 940 people. At VIII, it is the highest MMI level this earthquake has caused. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 23 million). In their region, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected. All exposure to shaking was within the borders of Ethiopia .

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
16,570	II	Very weak	None
22,740,000	III	Weak	Probably none
14,900,000	IV	Light	Likely none
179,100	V	Moderate	Very light
30,100	VI	Strong	Light
55,070	VII	Very Strong	Moderate
940	VIII	Severe	Moderate to heavy
0	IX	Violent	Heavy
0	X	Extreme	Very heavy

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake may have been felt in Ethiopia . Located 5 kilometer (3 mi) north-northwest of the epicenter of this earthquake, Metahāra (Oromiya, Ethiopia) is the nearest significant population center. The intensity of shaking and damage in Metahāra is estimated to be around level VII on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (very strong shaking, likely moderate damage).

Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Addis Ababa is located 128 km to the west and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Nazrēt is located 83 km to the west-southwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Dire Dawa is located 227 km to the east-northeast (intensity unknown, possibly low).

A complete list of nearby places is included below. Estimated intensity data (MMI) sourced from a shake-map published by the US Geographic Survey is shown where available (cities without data probably experienced little impact).

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
5 km (3 mi) SSE from epicenter	Metahāra Oromiya, Ethiopia.	VII Very Strong
68 km (42 mi) E from epicenter	Gelemso Oromiya, Ethiopia.	IV Light
83 km (52 mi) WSW from epicenter	Nazrēt Oromiya, Ethiopia.	IV Light
88 km (55 mi) SW from epicenter	Wenjī Oromiya, Ethiopia.	IV Light
92 km (57 mi) NNW from epicenter	Debre Birhan Amhara, Ethiopia.	IV Light
95 km (59 mi) WSW from epicenter	Mojo Oromiya, Ethiopia.	IV Light
96 km (60 mi) E from epicenter	Bedēsa Oromiya, Ethiopia.	IV Light
104 km (65 mi) WSW from epicenter	Bishoftu Oromiya, Ethiopia.	IV Light
107 km (66 mi) E from epicenter	Āsbe Teferī Oromiya, Ethiopia.	IV Light
116 km (72 mi) N from epicenter	Abomsa Amhara, Ethiopia.	IV Light
128 km (80 mi) W from epicenter	Addis Ababa Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.	IV Light
142 km (88 mi) W from epicenter	Sebeta Oromiya, Ethiopia.	III Weak
155 km (96 mi) W from epicenter	Genet Oromiya, Ethiopia.	III Weak
160 km (99 mi) NW from epicenter	Fichē Oromiya, Ethiopia.	III Weak
173 km (107 mi) SW from epicenter	Ziway Oromiya, Ethiopia.	III Weak
191 km (119 mi) WNW from epicenter	Gebre Guracha Oromiya, Ethiopia.	III Weak
193 km (120 mi) WSW from epicenter	Butajīra SNNPR, Ethiopia.	III Weak
197 km (122 mi) N from epicenter	Kemisē Amhara, Ethiopia.	III Weak
214 km (133 mi) S from epicenter	Goba Oromiya, Ethiopia.
218 km (135 mi) WSW from epicenter	Waliso Oromiya, Ethiopia.
219 km (136 mi) SSW from epicenter	Āsasa Oromiya, Ethiopia.
219 km (136 mi) SSE from epicenter	Ginir Oromiya, Ethiopia.	III Weak
226 km (140 mi) W from epicenter	Hāgere Hiywet Oromiya, Ethiopia.
227 km (141 mi) ENE from epicenter	Dire Dawa Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
232 km (144 mi) SSW from epicenter	Dodola Oromiya, Ethiopia.
238 km (148 mi) N from epicenter	Kombolcha Amhara, Ethiopia.
242 km (150 mi) SW from epicenter	Shashemenē Oromiya, Ethiopia.	III Weak
245 km (152 mi) N from epicenter	Desē Amhara, Ethiopia.
246 km (153 mi) E from epicenter	Harar Harari, Ethiopia.
250 km (155 mi) N from epicenter	Batī Amhara, Ethiopia.
251 km (156 mi) NW from epicenter	Bichena Amhara, Ethiopia.	III Weak
262 km (163 mi) SW from epicenter	Hawassa SNNPR, Ethiopia.
270 km (168 mi) SW from epicenter	K’olīto SNNPR, Ethiopia.
274 km (170 mi) SW from epicenter	Hosa’ina SNNPR, Ethiopia.
285 km (177 mi) WNW from epicenter	Debre Mark’os Amhara, Ethiopia.
294 km (183 mi) SSW from epicenter	Yirga ‘Alem SNNPR, Ethiopia.
314 km (195 mi) SW from epicenter	Bodītī SNNPR, Ethiopia.
320 km (199 mi) SW from epicenter	Āreka SNNPR, Ethiopia.
321 km (199 mi) E from epicenter	Jijiga Somali, Ethiopia.
331 km (206 mi) SSW from epicenter	Dīla SNNPR, Ethiopia.
331 km (206 mi) SW from epicenter	Sodo SNNPR, Ethiopia.
336 km (209 mi) NNE from epicenter	Dubti Āfar, Ethiopia.
336 km (209 mi) NNE from epicenter	Asaita Āfar, Ethiopia.
349 km (217 mi) NW from epicenter	Finote Selam Amhara, Ethiopia.
355 km (221 mi) SSW from epicenter	Kibre Mengist Oromiya, Ethiopia.
366 km (227 mi) WSW from epicenter	Jimma Oromiya, Ethiopia.
370 km (230 mi) SSW from epicenter	Shakiso Oromiya, Ethiopia.
378 km (235 mi) WSW from epicenter	Āgaro Oromiya, Ethiopia.
384 km (239 mi) NNW from epicenter	Debre Tabor Amhara, Ethiopia.
393 km (244 mi) NE from epicenter	'Ali Sabieh Ali Sabieh, Djibouti.
396 km (246 mi) ENE from epicenter	Baki Awdal, Somalia.
398 km (247 mi) N from epicenter	Korem Tigray, Ethiopia.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is VIII. The map below shows in which areas this earthquake was the most and least impactful. It is based on data from the US Geographic Survey.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Earthquake Intensity Map based on Shakemap Data provided by USGS.

Shaking reported by 9 people

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 9 people have reported shaking in 2 places in Ethiopia.We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

Metehara, Oromia, Ethiopia: 5 people.
Addis Ababa, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia: 4 people.

Aftershocks detected

This main shock was prefaced by 1 smaller foreshock. A 4.3 magnitude earthquake hit 2 days earlier nearby.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

Detected MAG2.5+ earthquakes within within 100km (62 mi), that occurred in the three days before and after the main shock.
Classification	Magnitude	When	Where
Foreshock	M 4.3	2 days earlier Feb 12, 2025 12:42PM (Addis Ababa Time)	11 km (7 mi) SSW from Main Shock.
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 5.9	Feb 14, 2025 11:28PM (Addis Ababa Time)	-

More earthquakes coming?

The risk of aftershocks decreases rapidly over time. Usually, aftershocks are at least one order of magnitude lower than a main shock.

In only six percent of cases, significant earthquakes are followed by a larger main shock, making the current earthquake a foreshock. While the chance of this happening is not so large, it is adviced to maintain cautiousness in the hours and days following a major earthquake.

Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).

This is an unusually powerful earthquake

No earthquake of this strength has struck this region for a long time. Our data goes back 10 years, and no earthquakes measuring a magnitude of 5.9 or higher have been detected within 300 km (186 mi) of this epicenter.

Tsunami very unlikely

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

While MAG-6.5+ earthquakes may cause tsunami's, it appears that the epicenter of this earthquake hit under land. In addition, the reported depth is deeper than 100km, making the risk of a tsunami even less likely. However always stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Factor	Under Sea?	MAG-6.5 or stronger?	Shallow depth?
Explanation	Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami.	Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's.	Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor.
This Earthquake	Not this earthquake. This earthquake appears to have struck on land far from any coast.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 5.9. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 25 km (16 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 27/03/25 01:48 (13 hours ago). This article is automatically generated based on available data. We keep checking multiple sources for additional information. This article gets updated as new details on this earthquake become available.