M6.0 Earthquake Strikes Near Fentale Volcano, Ethiopia, Causing Alarm

A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck near Fentale volcano, Ethiopia, on February 14, 2025, at a depth of 10 km. The quake affected approximately 80,000 people with varying degrees of shaking intensity. The USGS issued a Green alert for potential economic losses, and the region’s vulnerable structures pose significant risks. Concerns about the nearby Kesem/Sabure Dam add to the urgency for monitoring and safety measures.

A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck near Fentale volcano, Ethiopia, at 20:28 UTC on February 14, 2025, with a shallow depth of 10 km (6.2 miles) reported by the USGS. The quake’s epicenter was located approximately 6.6 km (4.1 miles) north-northeast of Metahara and 26 km (16 miles) west of Awash in the Oromiya and Afar regions. This seismic event was felt by 45,000 people with varying intensities of shaking: 37,000 experienced strong shaking, while 147,000 felt moderate tremors.

The USGS issued a Green alert concerning potential shaking-related fatalities and economic losses, indicating a low likelihood of injuries or significant damage. However, the region is home to numerous vulnerable structures, primarily composed of adobe block and informal materials, increasing the risk of earthquake-related impacts. Previous earthquakes have caused secondary hazards, including landslides, which could exacerbate damage and losses.

This earthquake is the strongest in an ongoing seismo-volcanic crisis in this area since December 22, 2024, likely linked to magma movement within the Fentale volcanic complex of the Main Ethiopian Rift. Since early January, around 80,000 residents in the Oromiya and Afar regions have been advised to evacuate due to these seismic activities, with government efforts underway to relocate them from high-risk zones to safer locations.

Damage from the recent quakes has affected homes, health facilities, schools, transportation networks, and essential infrastructure. At least two injuries were reported, and there are concerns regarding expanding fissures that pose a risk to the nearby Kesem/Sabure Dam, which could result in catastrophic flooding if structural integrity fails.

Given the dam’s design limit of enduring earthquakes up to M5.6, any significant seismic event poses a severe threat to downstream communities, potentially endangering hundreds of thousands of lives. Emergency response and further monitoring are crucial in mitigating these risks to ensure public safety and infrastructure stability.

The recent M6.0 earthquake near Fentale volcano has raised serious concerns regarding public safety in Ethiopia. Although the USGS has issued a low-alert level, the vulnerability of local structures and the risk of secondary hazards call for continued vigilance. Government relocation efforts aim to protect the at-risk population, while the integrity of critical infrastructures, especially the Kesem/Sabure Dam, requires close monitoring to prevent potential disasters.

Original Source: watchers.news