1982 North Yemen earthquake
1982 North Yemen earthquake (simplified)
On December 13, 1982, a powerful earthquake struck near the town of Dhamar in what was then North Yemen (now Yemen). The quake measured 6.2 on the moment magnitude scale and was shallow, about 10 kilometers deep. The shaking was strong enough to be classified as VIII (Severe) on the Mercalli scale in parts of the country.
About 2,800 people were killed and 1,500 were injured. Roughly 300 villages were badly damaged or destroyed, and around 700,000 people were left homeless. Older homes made of mud brick and stone suffered the most, while many modern, well-built structures fared better.
The quake happened in a geologically active area where several tectonic plates meet near the Red Sea. It was the first major quake in the region to be recorded by international seismic networks and the first fatal quake there since 1941.
Aftershocks continued for weeks, including a couple of larger ones at the end of December and in early January. A large relief effort followed, with neighboring countries and international aid groups sending medicine, supplies, and rescue teams. Saudi Arabia, for example, dispatched aircraft and a field hospital, along with support from other nations and organizations.
In total, the earthquake caused widespread destruction across about 1,400 square kilometers, with the heaviest losses near the area between Ma’bar and Dhamar.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 04:13 (CET).