Date: Thursday, 14 September 2023
A magnitude-5.0 earthquake occurred east of Asmara at around 20:51 Sept. 13. The epicenter was about 39 km (24 miles) south of Massawa. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 15 km (9 miles), and light-to-moderate shaking was probably felt throughout much of Eritrea. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days.
Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.