Moderate but dangerous shallow earthquake in Ethiopia

UPDATE 20/12 – 17:00 UTC : Please read our most recent article on this earthquake. We have written a separate article a few hours ago

UPDATE 20/12 – 11:00 UTC : Still no word in the Ethiopian press about this earthquake shock. We have the first report out of Ethiopia (see below)

UPDATE UTC 19:01 : Ethiopia is a seismic active area with parts of the country located on the Great Rift valley.
Also Addis Ababa, a city of millions, is highly at risk for a major earthquake.
Seismologists do insist to apply strict earthquake-proof building rules.
What seems very unusual (an earthquake in Ethiopia) is not so unusual at all. From time to time +6 earthquakes occur.
In the recent past Ethiopia had M6+ earthquakes in 1906, 1961, 1969, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1993 and 1999.

Still no news at all in Ethiopia or from other sources.
It will take probably until tomorrow before we ill be able to be sure that this earthquake will be damage and injuries free.

UPDATE UTC 13:23 :  So far, there are reports of this earthquake in the Ethiopian press

Unusual but shallow and dangerous earthquake near Hosaena, Fonka and Jajura. The area is very populated (see below).
Close to Abidjatta Shalla National Park.
GDACS published an ORANGE earthquake alert for this earthquake = moderate chance on damage and/or injuries.
Based on the seismogram picture (right) at Mount Fury Ethiopia, the earthquake was merely a short shockwave, which is positive to avoid potential damage.
Earthquake-Report.com is calling 700,000 at risk for possible damage in this kind of earthquake.
Possible impact on the population (please take into account that the exact location of the epicenter has an error margin of 15.3 km)
2,012 people are living within a radius of 1 km around the epicenter
14,777 people are living within a radius of 2 km
67,990 people are living within a radius of 5 km
277,774 people are living within a radius of 10 km
696,203 people are living within a radius of 20 km
3,069,623 people are living within a radius of 50 km
8,924,574 people are living within a radius of 100 km
24,410,800 people are living within a radius of 200 km

Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : M 5.1
UTC Time :  Sunday, December 19, 2010 at 12:14:24 UTC
Local time at epicenter : Sunday, December 19, 2010 at 03:14:24 PM at epicenter
Depth (Hypocenter) : 9.8 km
Send an “earthquake experience report” for this earthquake
Geo-location(s)  (horizontal uncertainty +/- 15.3 km) :
Approx. 10 km from Hosaena, Fonka and Jajura
200 km (124 miles) SW (215°) from ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia
219 km (136 miles) N (9°) from Gidole, Ethiopia

Links to important maps
USGS Did You Feel It Map
Google satellite map of the area showing the kind of terrain the earthquake took place
USGS historic earthquakes map
USGS Seismic hazard map
LIVE SEISMOGRAM (nearest Seismograph station)
GDACS ORANGE earthquake report

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