A 4.9 magnitude earthquake was felt in the Awash Fentale area on Sunday evening. The Geo Physics Space Science and Astronomy Institute of Addis Ababa University confirmed this in a statement given to the local media. The United States government’s official earthquake website announced that a moderate earthquake had occurred in the Methara area. At around 2:10 pm, many residents of Addis Ababa and Adama cities shared on social media that they felt the earthquake. According to the American website, the earthquake that occurred at around 2 pm local time had a depth of 10 kilometers. The website added that the tremors that occurred 30 kilometers away from the city of Mehtahara were felt more than 380 kilometers away, with a speed of 0.48 seconds.

The earthquake was especially felt in many villages in Addis Ababa, and residents of Hayat, CMC, Bole Arabsa, YeKa Abado, and other areas reported feeling the earthquake. Photos posted on social media showed many residents leaving their homes in shock and get together on the streets. The Crisis24 website reported that the earthquake was felt in central Ethiopia. Websites that monitor this natural phenomenon stated that the earthquake, which occurred 23 kilometers away from Awash, measured 4.9 on the Richter scale, classified as medium.

 Dr. Elias Lewi, head of Addis Ababa University’s Department of Geophysics and Space Science, told government media that the earthquake was not a threat to residents. The expert added that the earthquake near Awash Fentale was the tremor felt by Addis Ababa, noting recent earthquakes in the Afar region. No casualties or damage to property have been reported as a result of Sunday night’s earthquake.