A 5.0 magnitude earthquake struck approximately 570 kilometers east of Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and about 140 kilometers from the capital Addis Ababa at 7:36 AM Cairo time, Friday.
The quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers.
Local media reported that the epicenter of the earthquake was located in the Ethiopian Rift Valley (an extension of the Great Rift Valley).
Ethiopia previously experienced a 4.4 magnitude earthquake on May 8, 2023, less than 100 kilometers from the GERD, making it the closest earthquake to the dam in over a century.
A ticking time-bomb
According to the latest data, the GERD currently contains 60 billion cubic meters of water – equivalent to 60 billion tons – placing significant weight on Ethiopia’s geologically fragile crust due to the presence of the Great Rift Valley and its faults and cracks.
Although this latest earthquake is relatively far from the GERD and its magnitude is moderate, the recurrence of such earthquakes could impact the dam, especially after it is fully filled.
This could turn it into a potential time-bomb; not one that will explode immediately, but a constant threat over time.
The Great Rift Valley, which divides Ethiopia in two, is one of the most seismically and volcanically active regions in Africa.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
