Moderate magnitude 4.5 earthquake at unknown depth21 Mar 00:49 UTC: First to report: GFZ after 18 minutes.21 Mar 01:00: Now using data updates from EMSCI didn't feel itI felt this quakeEarthquake detailsDate & timeMar 21, 2026 00:31:28 UTC - Local time at epicenterSaturday, Mar 21, 2026, at 03:31 am (GMT +3)StatusconfirmedMagnitude4.5Depth10 kmEpicenter latitude / longitude13.709°N / 51.731°EYemenSeismic antipode13.709°S / 128.269°WShaking intensityV Moderate shaking near epicenterFelt0 reportsPrimary data sourceEMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre)Nearest volcanoBir Borhut (237 km / 147 mi)Weather at epicenter at time of quakeFew Clouds 26.3°C (79 F), humidity: 81%, wind: 8 m/s (16 kts) from SEEstimated seismic energy released3.5 x 1011 joules (98.6 megawatt hours, equivalent to 84.8 tons of TNT) | equivalent to ONE quake of magnitude 4.5 | about seismic energy35 minutes agoMar 21, 2026 00:31 GMT / Mar 21, 2026 03:31 am (GMT +3)Lat / Lng: 13.709 / 51.731: Yemen: Gulf OF AdenSource: EMSCOther sources: RaspberryShake: 4.5 / 10 km, GFZ: 4.5 / 10 kmDetail info | You felt it? - Report it!';storedMarkers.push(['quake-22828045',13.70900,51.73100,'35 minutes ago: Mag. 4.5, Yemen: Gulf OF Aden',html,'quakes-6-24.png',25,25,12,12,125]); function mkRep(id,notFelt){var nFelt=notFelt||false;var src="https://www.volcanoesandearthquakes.com/app/earthquake-report.php?quakeId="+id;if(nFelt==true){src+="¬Felt=true";}window.open(src,"","status=0,toolbar=0,location=0,directories=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,scrollbars=1,height=400,width=350");} function locationHashChanged(e){-1!=e.oldURL.indexOf("#popupMap")&&closePopup()} window.onhashchange = locationHashChanged; function comment(e){var t=e.parentNode,a=(t.dataset.id,document.getElementById("commentForm"));"none"==a.style.display?(t.appendChild(a),a.style.display="block"):a.style.display="none"}function sendComment(e){var t=e.parentNode,a=t.parentNode.dataset.id,n=document.getElementById("commentContent"),p=n.value.trim();if(p){var o="id="+a+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId;o+="&comment="+decodeURIComponent(p),mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",o,function(e){e.responseText;alert("Thank you for submitting your comment!"),t.style.display="none",n.value=""})}}function flagReport(e){var t=e.parentNode.dataset.id;if(confirm("Report this as inappropriate?")){var a="id="+t+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId+"&flagAsInappropriate=1";mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",a,function(t){var a=t.responseText;alert(a),e.style.display="none"})}}function likeReport(e){var t="id="+e.parentNode.dataset.id+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId+"&like=1";mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",t,function(t){t.responseText;e.style.opacity=.5})}]]>[smaller] [bigger]Most recent quakes Top 20 past 24 hrsNearby placesThe closest larger town where the quake might have been felt is Kilmia, a town with 2,000 inhabitants in Yemen, in 178 km (111 mi) distance south of the epicenter. People likely experienced very weak shaking there. In the capital of Yemen, Sanaa, 831 km (516 mi) away from the epicenter, the earthquake could not be felt.The following table shows some of the places that might have been affected (or not) by the shaking.DistancePlaceMax. shaking intensity(*)RegionCountry178 km (111 mi)S of epicenterKilmia(pop: 2,010)II: Very weakYE.04.1927, Hadhramaut Governorate Yemen217 km (135 mi)S of epicenterBereeda(pop: 11,300)II: Very weakBari Somalia221 km (137 mi)SW of epicenterCaluula(pop: 6,100)II: Very weakCaluula, Bari Somalia221 km (138 mi)SE of epicenterQalansiyah(pop: 3,500)II: Very weakQulensya Wa Abd Al Kuri, Socotra Yemen274 km (171 mi)SE of epicenterHadibu(pop: 8,550)II: Very weakHidaybu, Socotra Yemen279 km (173 mi)S of epicenterBargaal(pop: 6,800)II: Very weakBari Somalia282 km (175 mi)N of epicenterAl Ghayḑah(pop: 10,900)II: Very weakAl Ghaydah, Al Mahrah Yemen296 km (184 mi)W of epicenterMukalla(pop: 595,000)II: Very weakHadhramaut Governorate Yemen320 km (199 mi)SW of epicenterQandala(pop: 15,900)II: Very weakBari Somalia386 km (240 mi)SW of epicenterBosaso(pop: 74,300)I: Not feltBari Somalia831 km (516 mi)W of epicenterSanaa(pop: 1,937,500): Not feltAmanat alasimah YemenNotes:(*) Shaking intensity according to the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI) and estimated using seismic models.User-reports for this quakeThere are no user reports for this quake yet.If you felt it, be the first to report it!Get the Android appCompare Quake DataData for the same earthquake as reported by different agenciesThe 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.MagDepthTime GMT2026-03-21EpicenterAgency4.510 km6.2 mi(*)00:31:28.56GULF OF ADENEMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre)4.510 km6.2 mi(*)00:31:28Eastern Gulf of Aden0.2 km (0.1 mi) epicenter difference with EMSCRaspberryShake (RaspberryShake)4.5510 km6.2 mi(*)00:31:28.56Eastern Gulf of Aden0 km (0 mi) epicenter difference with EMSCGFZ (German Research Centre for Geosciences)Notes:(*) A depth given as 10 km often means that the the depth of the quake could be not determined with sufficient accuracy.Aftershocks for this quakeNo aftershocks have been recorded so far. When aftershocks are detected, we will update this section.What are aftershocks?Larger earthquakes (above magnitude 5 or so) such as this one are usually followed by smaller ones known as aftershocks that occur in the same area during the days, weeks, months or even years after the main shock.[More info]What about this quake?Based on its magnitude, the fault that was active during the quake likely ruptured beneath a surface area of approximately 3 km2 (1 square miles) as a first-order estimate. The length of the rupture zone thus was probably around 3 km (2 mi).[More info]Recorded aftershocks, latest first (0 quake)Mar 21, 2026 03:31 am (GMT +3)35 minutes ago4.510 km0 km - This quake296 km E of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, YemenMain Shock (this quake)MoreMap of aftershocksEarthquake statisticsAverage number of earthquakesBased on data from the past 56 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900, there are about 5 quakes on average per year in the area near the epicenter of this quake (within 100 km/61 mi):Mag. 6 or higher: 0.07 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 14.1 years)Mag. 5 or higher: 0.62 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 1.6 years)Mag. 4 or higher: 5.5 quakes per yearMag. 3 or higher: 8.4 quakes per yearMag. 2 or higher: 8.4 quakes per yearThe area where this quake occurred has a high level of seismic activity. It has had at least 9 quakes above magnitude 6 since 1900, which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently, probably on average approximately every 10 to 15 years.Number of quakes per yearPrevious quakes in the same area of this earthquakeThe earthquake occurred 11 weeks after a magnitude 4.6 earthquake had hit on Thursday, Jan 1, 2026, at 05:02 pm (GMT +3 local time) in 63 km (39 mi) distance to the northeast:Mag. 4.6 earthquake Arabian Sea - Socotra, Yemen - Jan 1, 2026 - The largest quake near the epicenter of this quake during the 10 years before was an event of magnitude 6.0. It had occurred 8 years earlier, on Sunday, Jul 15, 2018, at 04:09 pm (GMT +3 local time) in Gulf of Aden, Yemen:Mag. 6.0 earthquake 291 km east of Mukalla - Hadhramaut Governorate, Yemen - Jul 15, 2018 - The strongest-ever (since 1900) recorded quake in this area measured magnitude 6.6. It had occurred 19 years ago earlier, on Saturday, Dec 30, 2006, at 11:30 am (GMT +3 local time) in Gulf of Aden, Yemen:Mag. 6.6 earthquake 278 km southeast of Mukalla - Hadhramaut Governorate, Yemen - Dec 30, 2006 - Below is a list and map of larger or recent quakes that had occurred near the epicenter before this earthquake (within up to 100 km/61 mi distance, up to 300 km/183 mi for very large quakes above mag. 7). Filter and sort the list by magnitude or time.Max results102050100AllMagnitudeAll2+3+4+5+6+7+8+Time before48 hours1 week30 days1 year5 years30 yearsAny ageDate and TimeMagDepthDistanceLocationDetailsMapJan 1, 05:02 pm (GMT +3)4.610 km63 km (39 mi) to the NEArabian Sea, 197 km north of `Abd al Kuri Island, Socotra, YemenInfoNov 23, 2024 12:28 pm (GMT +3)4.310 km88 km (55 mi) to the SW157 km N of Caluula, SomaliaInfoJul 1, 2024 08:11 pm (GMT +3)4.610 km46 km (29 mi) to the NEArabian Sea, 210 km north of `Abd al Kuri Island, Socotra, YemenInfoJun 2, 2024 12:59 am (GMT +3)4.510 km91 km (57 mi) to the N190 km S of Al Ghayz̧ah, YemenInfoMay 12, 2024 07:20 am (GMT +3)4.510 km94 km (58 mi) to the SW 294 km northeast of Bosaso, Bari, SomaliaInfoDec 5, 2023 02:18 pm (GMT +3)4.510 km77 km (48 mi) to the SW 277 km southeast of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, YemenInfoJul 15, 2018 04:09 pm (GMT +3)6.010 km18 km (11 mi) to the N 291 km east of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, Yemen 1 reportInfoJul 15, 2018 04:59 am (GMT +3)5.510 km50 km (31 mi) to the N 274 km east of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, YemenInfoJul 15, 2018 04:57 am (GMT +3)6.010 km36 km (22 mi) to the N 276 km east of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, Yemen 1 reportInfoAug 17, 2015 07:16 pm (GMT +3)5.710 km8.9 km (5.5 mi) to the SEArabian Sea, 303 km east of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, YemenInfoFeb 20, 2011 12:09 pm (GMT +3)5.410 km11 km (6.8 mi) to the W 288 km east of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, YemenInfoApr 26, 2008 03:38 pm (GMT +3)5.310 km23 km (14 mi) to the N 282 km east of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, YemenInfoDec 30, 2006 11:57 am (GMT +3)5.310 km5.8 km (3.6 mi) to the SEArabian Sea, 172 km north of `Abd al Kuri Island, Socotra, YemenInfoDec 30, 2006 11:30 am (GMT +3)6.615 km59 km (37 mi) to the SW 278 km southeast of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, YemenInfoDec 15, 2006 04:19 pm (GMT +3)5.410 km14 km (8.9 mi) to the NW 285 km east of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, YemenInfoSep 1, 2002 08:14 pm (GMT +3)6.010 km68 km (42 mi) to the NArabian Sea, 235 km north of `Abd al Kuri Island, Socotra, YemenInfoAug 26, 2001 05:11 pm (GMT +3)5.710 km54 km (33 mi) to the N 290 km east of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, YemenInfoJun 15, 2001 07:19 pm (GMT +3)6.010 km22 km (14 mi) to the N 284 km east of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, YemenInfoJun 24, 2000 03:37 pm (GMT +3)5.310 km22 km (14 mi) to the W 278 km east of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, YemenInfoJun 7, 1997 02:22 pm (GMT +3)5.433 km39 km (24 mi) to the N 282 km east of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, YemenInfoSep 14, 1990 11:40 pm (GMT +3)5.510 km47 km (29 mi) to the SW 283 km southeast of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, YemenInfoOct 9, 1989 06:56 pm (GMT +3)5.410 km4.7 km (2.9 mi) to the EArabian Sea, 175 km north of `Abd al Kuri Island, Socotra, YemenInfoJul 16, 1988 11:42 am (GMT +3)5.610 km32 km (20 mi) to the N 280 km east of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, YemenInfoJan 29, 1984 01:47 am (GMT +3)5.810 km57 km (36 mi) to the NArabian Sea, 228 km north of `Abd al Kuri Island, Socotra, YemenInfoJul 21, 1975 04:27 pm (GMT +3)5.933 km20 km (13 mi) to the W 277 km east of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, YemenInfoJul 30, 1970 07:58 am (GMT +3)6.515 km66 km (41 mi) to the NEArabian Sea, 230 km north of `Abd al Kuri Island, Socotra, YemenInfoDec 12, 1967 01:30 am (GMT +3)5.518 km21 km (13 mi) to the SW 284 km east of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, YemenInfoNov 23, 1967 11:35 am (GMT +3)6.412 km90 km (56 mi) to the NEArabian Sea, 250 km north of `Abd al Kuri Island, Socotra, YemenInfoAug 3, 1961 03:41 am (GMT +3)5.50 km97 km (61 mi) to the NEArabian Sea, 255 km north of `Abd al Kuri Island, Socotra, YemenInfoDec 22, 1959 03:09 am (GMT +3)5.615 km23 km (14 mi) to the NW 275 km east of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, YemenInfoDec 21, 1959 02:19 pm (GMT +3)6.615 km9.2 km (5.7 mi) to the N 293 km east of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, YemenInfoJan 21, 1959 04:57 pm (GMT +3)5.615 km10 km (6.2 mi) to the S 297 km east of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, YemenInfoJun 16, 1946 10:04 am (Universal Time)5.615 km32 km (20 mi) to the W 264 km east of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, YemenInfoJul 17, 1941 11:34 pm (Universal Time)5.615 km47 km (29 mi) to the N 292 km east of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, YemenInfoAug 13, 1940 05:20 am (Universal Time)5.715 km94 km (59 mi) to the SArabian Sea, 87 km northwest of `Abd al Kuri Island, Socotra, YemenInfoSep 18, 1928 07:52 pm (Universal Time)6.115 km27 km (17 mi) to the S 295 km southeast of Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate, YemenInfoMap of earlier quakes in the area of this quakeMax results102050100AllMagnitudeAll2+3+4+5+6+7+8+Time before48 hours1 week30 days1 year5 years30 yearsAny ageOldest quakes are shown in yellow, most recent in red.[quakes -][quakes +][smaller][bigger]