May 7, 1861 Earthquake: Dubbi, Ethiopia, Eritrea

May 7, 1861 (Dhu'l-Qa'da 1277) Ethiopia. An eruption of the volcano Dubbi in Ethiopia was accompanied by strong earthquakes felt over a distance of a least 200 km. In the immediate vicinity of the volcano, two villages were destroyed, animals killed, and 106 people lost their lives. The shock was felt in al-Mukha and al-Hudaida and there, as well as along the entire coastal plain of Yemen, dust fell for several days. Dust also fell as far as Walda in Wollo and in the Dahlak Archípelago, so thickly that ships were unable to continue their voyage. The eruption was heard as far away as Massawa, Perim and Aden. Local tremors were felt for four months, ending with the final eruption in September. Reports from San'a confirm that the effects of the volcano were observed throughout Yemen, with the exception of San'a itself and part of the district of Yahsub, near Yarim. Explosions were heard for three days in Dhu' l-Qa'da (began 11 May 1861) and a kind of 'lustrous ashes' fell. There was a recurrence of similar activity on 12 Shawwal 1279 (2 April 1863), i.e. two years later. The people heard terrible noises in the air like cannonfire, and saw smoke and lightning flashes that crossed the sky from the direction of Mecca towards Aden. These experiences caused great terror. (reference #3845)

May 7-8, 1861. Eruption of the volcano Dubbi (Djebbel Duhheh: N 13.5, E 41.8) on the Red Sea coast of Ethiopia. The eruption was accompanied by strong earthquakes that were felt over a minimum radius of 200 km. Two villages were destroyed, animals killed, and 106 people lost their lives. The tremors were felt during four months. The first phase of the volcanic and seismic activity started simultaneously on 7-8 May 1861. Earth tremors were reported at Edd (N 13.9 , E 41.6) and Massawa (N 15.8", E 39.6") on the African coast of the Red Sea, and at Hoddeida (N 14.8, E 42.9) and Mukka (N 13.3 N, E 43.3) on the coast of Yemen. Gutenberg and Richter (1954) determined the epicentral coordinates of the main shock (7 May U.T. 22:20) as N 13.74, E 41.55. A renewal of volcanic activity probably occurred during September; no further earth tremors were reported. (reference #1134)