Earthquakes in Yemen — January 2026

5 earthquakes were recorded in Yemen during January 2026, an average of 0.2 per day.

5 reached magnitude 4 or above and 2 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 10 km.

The month's largest event in Yemen was a magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Qalansīyah, Yemen on 21 January 2026 at 01:05 UTC. A magnitude 5.3 earthquake radiates roughly 1,344 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is well above the Yemen monthly average of 2 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 3 in the magnitude 4 range, 2 in the magnitude 5 range.

Activity peaked on 21 January, when 3 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M5.3 near Qalansīyah, Yemen on 21 January at 10 km; M5.0 near Qalansīyah, Yemen on 21 January at 10 km; M4.6 near Hadibu, Yemen on 20 January at 10 km.

That is 206% above the 2 events Yemen averages per month across the 11 months on record.

This month also holds the strongest earthquake recorded in Yemen in our entire catalogue.