A magnitude 5.5 earthquake rattled Ethiopia, adding to a series of seismic events that have kept the region on high alert in recent months.
Multiple sources, including the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS), reported the quake, which struck at a shallow depth.
This latest tremor has reignited concerns about the geological stability of the Horn of Africa, a region known for its tectonic activity.
According to the USGS, the magnitude 5.5 earthquake hit near Āwash, Ethiopia, approximately 77 kilometers northwest of Āsbe Teferī, at around 2:32 PM PDT (local time in Ethiopia being several hours ahead).
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported a slightly lower magnitude of 5.2 for a quake in the same area just minutes earlier, suggesting either a separate event or variations in measurement.
Posts on X from sources like @InteractiveFeed highlighted a New York Times map detailing the quake, underscoring its significance as a notable event.
The earthquake’s shallow depth—often a factor in how strongly it is felt—likely amplified its impact on the ground. While no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage have surfaced, Ethiopian authorities are assessing the situation.
Shiferaw Teklemariam, Commissioner of the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission, emphasized a cautious approach in a statement reported by Khaleej Times, noting that it’s premature to link the quake to volcanic activity but that officials remain vigilant.
This isn’t the first time Ethiopia has felt the earth move in 2025. Earlier in January, The Jerusalem Post reported that a magnitude 5.5 quake struck east of Addis Ababa on January 11.
That event, also measured by the GFZ, occurred at a shallow depth and was part of a series of quakes that began escalating in intensity. Citizen TV Kenya reported on January 4 that a magnitude 5.5 quake coincided with a volcanic eruption, raising speculation about a connection between tectonic shifts and volcanic unrest in the region.
X posts from users like @mxdondevivo noted a progression from 5.2 to 5.5 to 5.8 magnitude quakes in early January, though these claims remain unverified by official sources.
Ethiopia sits atop the East African Rift, where the African continent is slowly splitting apart. This tectonic setting makes the country prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity.
The recurrence of magnitude 5+ quakes in 2025 has fueled discussions among scientists and residents alike about whether the region is entering a period of heightened geological instability.
Local authorities have yet to release a comprehensive damage assessment for the March 16 quake, but the Ethiopian government’s proactive stance suggests preparedness is a priority.
Khaleej Times quoted Shiferaw Teklemariam as saying that while it’s too early to classify these events as part of a larger eruptive or seismic trend, “authorities were not taking chances.”
The memory of January’s quakes, coupled with this latest event, has likely heightened public awareness and concern.
For a nation already grappling with economic and political challenges, repeated natural disruptions pose additional strain.
Infrastructure in rural areas near Āwash and Āsbe Teferī may be particularly vulnerable, though urban centers like Addis Ababa, located farther west, have so far escaped major impacts.
