September 24, 2005 Earthquake: Dabbahu, Ethiopia
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Dabbahu, Ethiopia on September 24, 2005 at 19:24:02 UTC, 12 km below the surface.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- September 24, 2005
- Time
- 19:24:02 UTC
- Place
- Dabbahu, Ethiopia
- Magnitude
- 5.6 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 12 km (7 mi)
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 12.471° N, 40.634° E
- Country
- Ethiopia
The toll
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million) with its tsunami and other effects
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
Surface faulting observed. Dabbahu Volcano began erupting, with the largest eruption occurring on September 26. An estimated 6,500 people were displaced, about 1000 livestock were killed and roads and water facilities were damaged by the eruption.
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
More
Significant earthquakes of 2005The 2000sEvery quake the USGS located in 2005Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 6822.