A magnitude 4.6 earthquake was reported near Awash in Ethiopia’s Afar Region on Sunday evening, August 9, according to VolcanoDiscovery.
The earthquake occurred at approximately 8:11 p.m. local time, with the epicentre located about 23 kilometres from Awash, the monitoring service reported. Other earthquake-monitoring sources placed the event near Metahara, approximately 19 to 22 kilometres from Awash.
The United States Geological Survey recorded the earthquake at 17:11:42 UTC, corresponding to 8:11 p.m. in Ethiopia.
The tremor occurred in the Awash-Metahara area, part of the seismically active Ethiopian Rift Valley. The region has experienced periodic earthquakes and tremors in recent years.
The available reports did not immediately provide details on casualties or structural damage from Sunday’s event. Authorities and residents are expected to continue monitoring the area for possible aftershocks.
Earthquakes of this magnitude may be felt by people near the epicentre, particularly when they occur at shallow depth, although the level of shaking and potential impact can vary depending on distance, ground conditions and the quality of buildings.
The Awash area has previously experienced stronger seismic activity. In March 2025, the USGS recorded a magnitude 5.4 earthquake about 44 kilometres north-northwest of Awash.
