Earthquakes in Ethiopia — December 2024

37 earthquakes were recorded in Ethiopia during December 2024, an average of 1.2 per day.

37 reached magnitude 4 or above and 1 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 10 km.

The month's largest event in Ethiopia was a magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Dulecha, Ethiopia on 29 December 2024 at 22:20 UTC. A magnitude 5.1 earthquake radiates roughly 674 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is well above the Ethiopia monthly average of 12 events over the period we cover — an unusually active month.

100% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 0% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). Almost everything here is crustal. That is characteristic of transform faulting or continental deformation rather than subduction — and it means shaking at the surface is strong for the magnitudes involved.

By band, the catalogue holds 36 in the magnitude 4 range, 1 in the magnitude 5 range.

Activity peaked on 30 December, when 11 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M5.1 near Dulecha, Ethiopia on 29 December at 10 km; M4.9 near Fentale, Ethiopia on 27 December at 10 km; M4.9 near Misrak Awash, Ethiopia on 29 December at 10 km.

That is 216% above the 12 events Ethiopia averages per month across the 14 months on record.