21/08/2025
🌍 Tectonic Activity in the Indian Ocean: Heads-Up for Mauritius 🌍
We are closely monitoring a significant seismic event in the Indian Ocean, as reported by recent data. While Mauritius is generally considered to have a very low earthquake risk, the island nation is located near active tectonic plate boundaries.
Magnitude: 5.0 (mb)
Location:Mid-Indian Ridge.
Time: In the early morning of Wednesday, Aug 20, 2025 at 1.38 am local time (GMT +4).
Depth: 10 km (shallow)
While this earthquake occurred a significant distance from Mauritius, it serves as a reminder of the region's dynamic geology. The Mid Indian Ridge is a divergent plate boundary where the African and Indo-Australian plates are spreading apart, and this kind of seismic activity is common.
What this means for Mauritius: Due to its distance from the epicenter and the type of seismic activity (divergent boundary), the risk of a destructive tsunami from these kind of events is very low. However, it's always wise to stay aware of your surroundings and be prepared.
Historical Context: Historically, Mauritius and its outlying territories like Rodrigues have experienced minor ground shaking from distant, large earthquakes, and even low-amplitude tsunami waves from major quakes like the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The coral reefs and lagoons surrounding Mauritius help to dissipate some of the tsunami energy, but a risk, however small, still exists from very powerful, distant events.
It's important to remember that this is a low-risk situation, but staying informed is key.
