Mild 4.8-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Parts of Rwanda

Kigali, Rwanda - A 4.8-magnitude earthquake was felt across several parts of the country on November 17, 2025, according to the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB). The tremor, recorded at 3:12 p.m., had its epicenter in Gatare Sector, Nyamagabe District, but was also experienced in Kigali City and surrounding areas.

In its statement, the RMB noted that the quake was strong enough to cause noticeable shaking. “This earthquake may cause windows to shake, furniture to shake or slight shaking of poorly constructed houses,” the agency reported.

Earthquakes with magnitudes between 4.0 and 5.0 are classified as mild, but they can still cause localized damage - particularly near the source. Such tremors may rattle buildings, shake windows and small objects, and in some cases, cause walls of weakly built homes to collapse. They may also trigger landslides on steep slopes and damage fragile items like plates and glassware.

Residents indoors often perceive this intensity as similar to a heavy truck passing nearby. Despite the shaking, experts say the quake was not considered highly destructive.

Geologists emphasize that the impact of an earthquake depends on multiple factors, including its intensity, location, frequency, and the resilience of local infrastructure.

This latest tremor follows a series of seismic events recorded in Rwanda this year. On November 11, 2025, a 4.2-magnitude quake was felt in western Rwanda. Earlier on July 28, a stronger 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Lake Tanganyika region. Another quake occurred on May 4 near Lake Albert, registering 5.4 in magnitude and followed minutes later by a 4.1 aftershock.

Historically, Rwanda’s strongest recorded earthquake occurred on March 20, 1966, with a magnitude of 6.6 - the most powerful in over a century. The region also witnessed significant seismic activity in 2021 during the Nyiragongo volcanic eruption, which forced thousands to flee.

Authorities have not reported any major damage or casualties from the latest incident.