Over 43,000 People in Need of Assistance Following Recent Earthquake in Ethiopia’s Tigray and Afar Regions

Ethiomonitor -Addis Ababa 

October  17, 2025

More than 43,000 individuals have been identified as requiring humanitarian assistance following a 5.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Ethiopia’s northern regions of Afar and Tigray on October 11, as reported by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).
The earthquake impacted several districts, resulting in the tragic death of a 12-year-old child in the Berhale district of Afar, while nine others sustained injuries. In Afar alone, over 1,400 houses were destroyed, along with 12 schools, 12 health centers, and 150 water points. This devastation has left thousands without shelter, clean water, and access to essential social services. Local officials indicated that residents from five severely affected areas are in urgent need of assistance.
In response to the crisis, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has deployed assessment teams to evaluate the extent of the damage and the necessary support for the affected populations. Similarly, the Tigray Disaster Risk Management Bureau reported significant destruction around Mekelle city, with 40 houses completely destroyed and over 225 individuals displaced or in distress.
ECHO’s Director-General noted that the disaster has further exacerbated the vulnerabilities of communities in both regions, emphasizing ongoing efforts to mobilize emergency assistance for those impacted.
The earthquakes, which struck northern Ethiopia on the evening of October 11, 2025, were recorded by multiple geological monitoring agencies. The first tremor, centered in Afar approximately 45 kilometers from Mekelle, measured 5.6 on the Richter scale, while a subsequent quake, located about 58 kilometers from the city, registered 5.3. The shocks were felt across various parts of Tigray, including Mekelle, raising widespread concern among residents. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Germany’s GFZ monitoring agency confirmed the magnitudes and locations of the quakes, highlighting the region’s susceptibility to seismic activity.