Strong mag. 6.0 earthquake - Tanzania on Wednesday, 12 August 2020 - information
Strong mag. 6.0 earthquake - Indian Ocean, 88 km southeast of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Wednesday, 12 August 2020 at 17:13 (GMT)
-Quake Data | Interactive map | User Reports | Aftershocks | Earlier quakes in same area | Quakes in Tanzania| Pwani | Dar es Salaam Region | Zanzibar Urban/West | Dodoma
Strong magnitude 6.0 earthquake at 25 km depth
12 Aug 17:22 UTC: First to report: GFZ after 9 minutes.
Aug 12 17:24: Magnitude recalculated from 5.9 to 6.0.
Hypocenter depth recalculated from 10.0 to 25.0 km.
Aug 12 17:24: Magnitude recalculated from 5.9 to 6.0.
Hypocenter depth recalculated from 10.0 to 25.0 km.
Update Thu, 13 Aug 2020, 08:30
Quake was strongest in region since at least 2016, but no significant damage
User-reports with location and shaking intensity
Luckily, even after 15 hours since the magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck near Tanzania's coast last night, there are no reports of serious damage or injuries. Had the quake occurred closer to the shore, it probably would have had a much more severe outcome.
USGS models estimates that almost 9 million people felt the earthquake, mostly as weak to mild shaking, while 59,000 people in the areas closest to the epicenter felt it at moderate intensity. This fits nicely into the user-generated shake map, based on the more than 800 reports we received so far.
Last night's tremor was the strongest earthquake in the region since 10 September 2016, when a similarly strong earthquake hit northwest Tanzania, killing at least 17 people and injuring more than 400.
USGS models estimates that almost 9 million people felt the earthquake, mostly as weak to mild shaking, while 59,000 people in the areas closest to the epicenter felt it at moderate intensity. This fits nicely into the user-generated shake map, based on the more than 800 reports we received so far.
Last night's tremor was the strongest earthquake in the region since 10 September 2016, when a similarly strong earthquake hit northwest Tanzania, killing at least 17 people and injuring more than 400.
Update Wed, 12 Aug 2020, 17:56
People near the epicenter reported that the quake came in two waves; first there was "around 8 to 10 seconds of vibration and then a 2 second long shock", a user told us.
Within 30 minutes, more than 200 reports have come in so far. The interactive map below plots location and reported intensity, which gives a good idea about the impact of the quake. So far, there are no reports of major damage or injuries, fortunately.
Within 30 minutes, more than 200 reports have come in so far. The interactive map below plots location and reported intensity, which gives a good idea about the impact of the quake. So far, there are no reports of major damage or injuries, fortunately.
Read all
Earthquake data:
Date & time: 12 Aug 2020 17:13:17 UTC -
Magnitude: 6
Depth: 25.0 km
Epicenter latitude / longitude: 7.37°S / 39.85°E
(Indian Ocean, Tanzania)Nearby towns and cities:
64 km (40 mi) NNE of Kilindoni (Mafia) (pop: 12,400) --> See nearby quakes!
73 km (45 mi) ESE of Vikindu (Mkuranga) (pop: 23,300) --> See nearby quakes!
76 km (47 mi) ESE of Mkwanga (Mkuranga) (pop: 28,000) --> See nearby quakes!
88 km (55 mi) SE of Dar es Salaam (pop: 2,698,700) --> See nearby quakes!
92 km (57 mi) ENE of Bungu (Rufiji) (pop: 27,900) --> See nearby quakes!
108 km (67 mi) ENE of Kibiti (Rufiji) (pop: 30,200) --> See nearby quakes!
123 km (76 mi) ESE of Kibaha (pop: 23,700) --> See nearby quakes!
147 km (91 mi) SE of Bagamoyo (pop: 82,400) --> See nearby quakes!
152 km (95 mi) SSE of Zanzibar (pop: 403,700) --> See nearby quakes!
473 km (294 mi) ESE of Dodoma (pop: 180,500) --> See nearby quakes!
Primary data source: GFZ (German Research Centre for Geosciences)
Estimated released energy: 6.3 x 1013 joules (17.5 gigawatt hours, equivalent to 15080 tons of TNT or 0.9 atomic bombs!) More info
Data for the same earthquake reported by different agencies
Info: The more agencies report about the same quake and post similar data, the more confidence you can have in the data. It takes normally up to a few hours until earthquake parameters are calculated with near-optimum precision.
| Magnitude | Depth | Location | Source |
| M 6.0 | 25 km | Tanzania | GFZ |
| M 6.0 | 15 km | Tanzania | EMSC |
| M 5.9 | 10 km | Tanzania | BMKG |
| M 6.0 | 0.8 km | Tanzania [Sea] | INGV |
| M 5.9 | 10 km | Tanzania | GeoAu |
| M 6.0 | 16 km | 66 km ESE of Vikindu, Tanzania | USGS |
User reports for this quake (1030)
User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale.
Contribute:
Leave a comment if you find a particular report interesting or want to add to it.
Flag as inappropriate.
Mark as helpful or interesting.
Send your own user report!
Leave a comment if you find a particular report interesting or want to add to it.
Flag as inappropriate.
Mark as helpful or interesting.
Send your own user report!
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 97 km NW of epicenter) : Felt a strong vibration. Those living in high rise buildings felt it more. (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 97 km NW of epicenter) : Huh, this was tremendous. As for me being of 41 years old this is my very first time to ever feel something like this. I was seated having a street cup of coffee and I was like what? Is there someone shaking the branch that I am seated on?
When I looked either side no one was touching the bench I am sitting on but a women's selling food and other people around me were all so afraid and looking around some saying ooh even the car shakes some ran to look over the beach if it has risen over its limits and yes they said it has overflown somehow. Menainv it is full. (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 97 km NW of epicenter) : Observed mostly on the costal regions - going south (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 97 km NW of epicenter) : It was a very light rumble, caused the objects on my table to wobble fervently but never in danger of toppling of falling over (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 97 km NW of epicenter) : It took like less than a second. Was seated on the floor. (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 97 km NW of epicenter) : I felt like dizzy and my legs felt wiggle like cooked noodles. We live in a building I went down the stairs and went out of the building and see everyone out and it passed but I went up and see my painting fell down (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 97 km NW of epicenter) : The ground suddenly started shaking. All of a sudden. (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 97 km NW of epicenter) : We are still suffering from fear (reported through EMSC)
Magomeni (Tanzania, 96 km NW of epicenter) : Chair and floor moved (reported through EMSC)
Magomeni (Tanzania, 96 km NW of epicenter) : very light (reported through EMSC)
Magomeni (Tanzania, 96 km NW of epicenter) : Was in bed and felt a sudden sinking feeling and then side to side. Lasted a few seconds (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 95 km NW of epicenter) : It lasted for 10 second , at first I couldn’t believe it had to gather everyone to safety worrying it might get worse. But it ended . Relatives from Arusha (Moshono)and Kilimanjaro (moshi town)regions 560 km from sea level felt it (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 95 km NW of epicenter) : I was very shocked (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 95 km NW of epicenter) : Strong eartquake from indian ocean side (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 95 km NW of epicenter) : I felt a strong tremor for a few seconds. (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 95 km NW of epicenter) : No (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, 93 km NW of epicenter) : Heavy (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 92 km NW of epicenter) : It was a sudden Earthquake, which shaked the houses, it made a certain noise. It lasted for about 5min. (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 92 km NW of epicenter) : A low rumble that rose sharply and then subsided after less that ten seconds. (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 92 km NW of epicenter) : A flower pot was shaking as well as the floor of the house. (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 92 km NW of epicenter) : Window panes were shaking and heavy furniture vibrated badly in our 6 story building. Frightening noises: we had to run out of the apartment and people were doing the same. More emotional but no physical harm or damages noted. (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 92 km NW of epicenter) : One minute impact (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 92 km NW of epicenter) : May god have mercy on us (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 92 km NW of epicenter) : It was very weird,and very uncomfortable!! (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 92 km NW of epicenter) : 앉아있던 의자와 책상이 흔들림 (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 92 km NW of epicenter) : shaking of furniture and utencils (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 92 km NW of epicenter) : Hard (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 92 km NW of epicenter) : It was a scary experience since it's my first time to feel an earthquake (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 92 km NW of epicenter) : This is second time experiencing similar nature from the 2013 that also passed through Dar ES salaam.
It was terrifying indeed and was shocked and ran outside the house for safety purposes (reported through EMSC)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, United Republic of, 92 km NW of epicenter) : Six flor (reported through EMSC)
Aftershocks
More info
Recorded aftershocks, latest first (2 quakes):- 06 Oct 2020 19:11 UTC| M 4.6 |10 km (6.2 mi) depth|11 km (7 mi) distance| USGS | Details
- 13 Aug 2020 14:54 UTC| M 5.1 |10 km (6.2 mi) depth|12 km (8 mi) distance| GeoAu | Details
Earlier earthquakes in the same area since 1900
- Date / time UTC| Mag |Depth|Age|Distance| Details
- 08 Dec 2007 19:55| 5.6 |6km / 3.7mi|13 years ago|244km / 152mi| 15 km SW of Kisanga, Morogoro Rural, Tanzania
- 04 Jan 1977 20:44| 5.2 |33km / 21mi|44 years ago|147km / 91mi| Kisarawe District, 56 km NW of Kibiti, Rufiji District, Pwani, Tanzania
- 15 Jan 2005 05:13| 5.0 |10km / 6.2mi|16 years ago|168km / 105mi| Kaskazini B, Zanzibar North, 19 km N of Занзибар, Tanzania
- 28 Apr 1986 18:09| 5.0 |10km / 6.2mi|35 years ago|175km / 109mi| Kilwa District, Lindi, 79 km S of Ikwiriri, Rufiji District, Pwani, Tanzania
- 06 Apr 1999 04:16| 4.9 |10km / 6.2mi|22 years ago|134km / 83mi| Kilwa District, Lindi, 86 km SE of Kibiti, Rufiji District, Pwani, Tanzania
- 08 Sep 2015 23:43| 4.8 |10km / 6.2mi|5 years ago|25km / 16mi| Indian Ocean, 72 km E of Vikindu, Mkuranga, Pwani, Tanzania
- 10 Jun 2011 08:28| 4.8 |10km / 6.2mi|10 years ago|40km / 25mi| Indian Ocean, 49 km SE of Дар-эс-Салам, Tanzania
- 25 Feb 1992 20:10| 4.5 |10km / 6.2mi|29 years ago|52km / 32mi| Indian Ocean, 70 km E of Vikindu, Mkuranga, Pwani, Tanzania
- 09 Jun 1997 02:38| 4.4 |10km / 6.2mi|24 years ago|123km / 76mi| Indian Ocean, 30 km SE of Занзибар, Tanzania
- 13 Apr 1983 02:13| 4.1 |33km / 21mi|38 years ago|61km / 38mi| Indian Ocean, 87 km NE of Tshole-Shamba Island, Pwani, Tanzania
Hint: Click on Date/Time to show latest first
