Malawi
Malawi: earthquakes and wildfires
Latest earthquakes and active wildfires in Malawi on a live map, the strongest earthquakes and largest fires on record, and statistics by year.
Live map – Malawi
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Latest event3.2 km²4 h ago50 km S of Blantyre, Malawi
Low
Moderate
High
Very high
Extreme
Very extreme
Forecast: Copernicus EFFIS (FWI index)
Very light rain (0.1–1 mm)
Light rain (1–5 mm)
Moderate rain (5–10 mm)
Heavy rain (10–25 mm)
Very heavy rain (25–50 mm)
Extreme rain (≥ 50 mm)
Forecast: ECMWF via Copernicus EMS – GWIS
Calm (< 7 km/h, 0–1 Bf)
Light breeze (7–18 km/h, 2–3 Bf)
Moderate breeze (18–36 km/h, 4–5 Bf)
Strong breeze (36–54 km/h, 5–7 Bf)
Gale (54–72 km/h, 7–8 Bf)
Storm (≥ 72 km/h, 9+ Bf)
Forecast: ECMWF via Copernicus EMS – GWIS
Very low lightning
Low lightning
Moderate lightning
High lightning
Very high lightning
Extreme lightning
Forecast: ECMWF via Copernicus EMS – GWIS
Earthquakes
Wildfires
Floods
Storms
Volcanoes
Tsunamis
Key statistics (30 days)
Earthquakes M2.5+ and the wildfire fronts shown on the map.
Fire danger
Today
High
Tomorrow
High
Day after
High
Forecast for the area around: Mangochi. Danger can vary locally; follow official guidance. Source: Copernicus EMS – EFFIS (FWI).
Severe weather (forecast)
- Today: Rain – Very heavy rain (25–50 mm) · Dedza
- Today: Lightning – Very high lightning · Mwanza
- Tomorrow: Rain – Extreme rain (≥ 50 mm) · Chitipa
- Tomorrow: Lightning – High lightning · Liwonde
Forecast for the area around: Malawi. It does not replace warnings from the national weather service. Source: ECMWF / Copernicus EMS.
Recent events in Malawi
- 4 h agoWildfire near Blantyre, Malawi – active3.2 km² · 50 km S of Blantyre, Malawi
- 28 h agoWildfire near Mzuzu, Malawi – active6.0 km² · 41 km W of Mzuzu, Malawi
- 28 h agoWildfire near Karonga, Malawi – active5.3 km² · 10 km SW of Karonga, Malawi
- 28 h agoWildfire near Mzuzu, Malawi – active10 km² · 13 km SE of Mzuzu, Malawi
- 28 h agoWildfire near Mzuzu, Malawi – active4.7 km² · 20 km NNE of Mzuzu, Malawi
- 28 h agoWildfire near Mzimba, Malawi – active7.0 km² · 32 km SSE of Mzimba, Malawi
Historical overview
Earthquakes M3.0+ and significant events of other hazards.
About Malawi
Malawi has recorded 133 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or more since 1977. The strongest was M6.1 in 1989.
Satellites have detected 82 significant wildfires here; the largest burned about 7,281 km².
Know the official emergency number, prepare an emergency kit and follow the instructions of your civil protection authority.
Learn more ›Earthquakes
133 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or more since 1977. The strongest was M6.1.
Recent earthquakes
| Mag | Location | Time (UTC) | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.4 | 57 km ESE of Mzuzu, Malawi | 10.0 km |
Strongest earthquakes on record
| Mag | Location | Time (UTC) | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.1 | 10 km NNW of Salima, Malawi | 30.0 km | |
| 6.0 | 23 km SSW of Karonga, Malawi | 6.0 km | |
| 5.9 | 6 km WSW of Karonga, Malawi | 8.0 km | |
| 5.8 | 23 km SSW of Karonga, Malawi | 9.0 km | |
| 5.7 | 12 km NW of Salima, Malawi | 29.6 km | |
| 5.5 | 25 km NE of Nsanje, Malawi | 17.0 km | |
| 5.5 | near Karonga, Malawi | 10.0 km | |
| 5.4 | 55 km ESE of Mzuzu, Malawi | 10.0 km | |
| 5.3 | 27 km S of Karonga, Malawi | 10.0 km | |
| 5.2 | 13 km SW of Karonga, Malawi | 10.0 km | |
| 5.1 | 13 km SW of Karonga, Malawi | 14.9 km | |
| 5.1 | 19 km S of Karonga, Malawi | 10.0 km | |
| 5.1 | 22 km S of Karonga, Malawi | 10.0 km | |
| 5.1 | 17 km NW of Monkey Bay, Malawi | 10.0 km | |
| 5.1 | 35 km E of Lilongwe, Malawi | 33.0 km |
Earthquakes per year (M3.0+)
Year
| 2026 | 1 | M4.4 |
| 2025 | 2 | M4.6 |
| 2024 | 1 | M4.5 |
| 2022 | 4 | M4.9 |
| 2021 | 2 | M4.4 |
| 2020 | 1 | M4.2 |
| 2019 | 3 | M4.2 |
| 2018 | 6 | M5.5 |
| 2017 | 2 | M4.3 |
| 2016 | 2 | M4.6 |
| 2015 | 3 | M4.7 |
| 2014 | 1 | M5.1 |
| 2012 | 2 | M4.5 |
| 2011 | 1 | M4.3 |
| 2010 | 8 | M4.7 |
| 2009 | 26 | M6.0 |
| 2007 | 2 | M4.8 |
| 2006 | 2 | M3.8 |
| 2005 | 1 | M4.0 |
| 2003 | 1 | M5.0 |
| 2000 | 4 | M4.4 |
| 1999 | 2 | M4.5 |
| 1998 | 2 | M4.8 |
| 1996 | 3 | M4.6 |
| 1995 | 2 | M5.1 |
| 1993 | 2 | M4.6 |
| 1992 | 3 | M4.9 |
| 1990 | 4 | M5.1 |
| 1989 | 16 | M6.1 |
| 1988 | 2 | M4.3 |
| 1987 | 4 | M4.8 |
| 1986 | 7 | M4.9 |
| 1985 | 1 | M4.1 |
| 1984 | 2 | M5.1 |
| 1982 | 2 | M4.3 |
| 1980 | 3 | M4.3 |
| 1979 | 1 | M5.0 |
| 1978 | 1 | M5.1 |
| 1977 | 1 | M4.6 |
Wildfires
82 major fires since 2025. The largest covered about 7,281 km².
Recent fires
| Area | Location | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2 km² | 50 km S of Blantyre, Malawi | Active | |
| 6.0 km² | 41 km W of Mzuzu, Malawi | Active | |
| 5.3 km² | 10 km SW of Karonga, Malawi | Active | |
| 10 km² | 13 km SE of Mzuzu, Malawi | Active | |
| 4.7 km² | 20 km NNE of Mzuzu, Malawi | Active | |
| 7.0 km² | 32 km SSE of Mzimba, Malawi | Active | |
| 7,281 km² | 40 km SE of Mzimba, Malawi | Active | |
| 4.3 km² | 18 km WSW of Karonga, Malawi | Active | |
| 57 km² | 25 km NE of Mzuzu, Malawi | Active | |
| 5.0 km² | 27 km ESE of Mzuzu, Malawi | Active |
Show all (147)
| Area | Location | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5 km² | 16 km SSE of Chitipa, Malawi | Active | |
| 3.3 km² | 25 km NNE of Chipeni, Malawi | Active | |
| 3.1 km² | 26 km S of Mzimba, Malawi | Active | |
| 13 km² | 15 km SW of Chitipa, Malawi | Active | |
| 56 km² | 31 km W of Karonga, Malawi | Active | |
| 21 km² | 47 km NW of Nkhotakota, Malawi | Active | |
| 22 km² | 19 km SSW of Mzuzu, Malawi | Active | |
| 4.3 km² | 24 km SE of Mzuzu, Malawi | Active | |
| 11 km² | 135 km SW of Lilongwe, Malawi | Active | |
| 8.4 km² | 37 km SSW of Ngabu, Malawi | Active | |
| 4.6 km² | 34 km SSW of Ngabu, Malawi | Active | |
| 5.7 km² | 149 km SW of Blantyre, Malawi | Active | |
| 3.8 km² | 65 km SW of Ngabu, Malawi | Active | |
| 5.7 km² | 36 km S of Monkey Bay, Malawi | Active | |
| 14 km² | 106 km SW of Lilongwe, Malawi | Active | |
| 3.1 km² | 84 km ESE of Zomba, Malawi | Active | |
| 7.6 km² | 28 km SE of Nsanje, Malawi | Active | |
| 7.1 km² | 112 km SSW of Lilongwe, Malawi | Active | |
| 6.5 km² | 63 km SW of Ngabu, Malawi | Active | |
| 11 km² | 19 km SSW of Ngabu, Malawi | Active | |
| 4.6 km² | 100 km S of Lilongwe, Malawi | Active | |
| 8.2 km² | 56 km W of Nsanje, Malawi | Active | |
| 32 km² | 76 km SSE of Blantyre, Malawi | Active | |
| 11 km² | 71 km W of Blantyre, Malawi | Active | |
| 27 km² | 12 km SW of Ngabu, Malawi | Active | |
| 7.0 km² | 84 km SW of Blantyre, Malawi | Active | |
| 4.0 km² | 64 km SW of Ngabu, Malawi | Active | |
| 8.6 km² | 74 km ESE of Zomba, Malawi | Active | |
| 17 km² | 65 km S of Blantyre, Malawi | Active | |
| 9.9 km² | 27 km WNW of Ngabu, Malawi | Active | |
| 28 km² | 120 km S of Lilongwe, Malawi | Active | |
| 7.2 km² | 95 km SW of Blantyre, Malawi | Active | |
| 22 km² | 116 km SSW of Lilongwe, Malawi | Active | |
| 5.9 km² | 77 km WSW of Lilongwe, Malawi | Active | |
| 3.8 km² | 33 km WNW of Blantyre, Malawi | Active | |
| 3.9 km² | 18 km WSW of Rumphi, Malawi | Active | |
| 3.5 km² | 75 km NE of Lilongwe, Malawi | Active | |
| 27 km² | 19 km ENE of Ngabu, Malawi | Active | |
| 15 km² | 41 km WNW of Blantyre, Malawi | Active | |
| 5.9 km² | 100 km W of Blantyre, Malawi | Active | |
| 8.6 km² | 76 km SSW of Blantyre, Malawi | Active | |
| 7.2 km² | 47 km WNW of Blantyre, Malawi | Active | |
| 3.4 km² | 53 km S of Blantyre, Malawi | Active | |
| 63 km² | 46 km SSW of Ngabu, Malawi | Active | |
| 15 km² | 16 km ESE of Nsanje, Malawi | Active | |
| 56 km² | 84 km SSE of Blantyre, Malawi | Active | |
| 8.0 km² | 15 km NNE of Nsanje, Malawi | Active | |
| 8.0 km² | 123 km SSW of Lilongwe, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 9.5 km² | 32 km N of Nsanje, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 3.1 km² | 37 km WNW of Nkhotakota, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 15 km² | near Zomba, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 5.7 km² | 28 km SW of Ngabu, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 4.5 km² | 85 km W of Mzuzu, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 18 km² | 32 km NNE of Mzuzu, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 7.5 km² | 27 km W of Nkhotakota, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 12 km² | 26 km SW of Blantyre, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 3.4 km² | 8 km NNE of Mulanje, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 78 km² | 94 km WNW of Blantyre, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 18 km² | 30 km WSW of Ngabu, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 6.1 km² | 34 km NW of Blantyre, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 12 km² | 39 km WNW of Nkhotakota, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 4.6 km² | 13 km NE of Mulanje, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 5.3 km² | 12 km WSW of Blantyre, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 3.4 km² | 21 km ESE of Liwonde, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 4.2 km² | 15 km NW of Ngabu, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 8.8 km² | 114 km SW of Lilongwe, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 28 km² | 35 km ENE of Rumphi, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 11 km² | 109 km W of Blantyre, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 3.4 km² | 60 km SSW of Ngabu, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 12 km² | 18 km WSW of Ngabu, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 17 km² | 29 km ENE of Rumphi, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 3.4 km² | 37 km NNW of Blantyre, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 11 km² | 15 km NE of Mangochi, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 4.0 km² | 7 km S of Ntcheu, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 6.8 km² | 26 km E of Ngabu, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 8.1 km² | 97 km SSW of Lilongwe, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 7.9 km² | 50 km WSW of Kasungu, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 5.3 km² | 74 km SW of Blantyre, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 7.6 km² | 62 km NNW of Blantyre, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 14 km² | 111 km SW of Blantyre, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 9.7 km² | 35 km S of Mzuzu, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 6.5 km² | 110 km SW of Lilongwe, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 4.2 km² | 101 km SW of Lilongwe, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 5.8 km² | 120 km SW of Lilongwe, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 13 km² | 69 km SW of Blantyre, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 15 km² | 99 km SW of Lilongwe, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 13 km² | 24 km WSW of Balaka, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 4.6 km² | 67 km SW of Ngabu, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 7.6 km² | 20 km W of Nsanje, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 12 km² | 134 km SW of Lilongwe, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 6.3 km² | 30 km ESE of Ngabu, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 3.2 km² | 40 km N of Mwanza, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 19 km² | 95 km W of Blantyre, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 12 km² | 21 km W of Nkhotakota, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 14 km² | 6 km ESE of Livingstonia, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 21 km² | 44 km NE of Likoma, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 12 km² | 47 km SW of Karonga, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 15 km² | 14 km N of Livingstonia, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 11 km² | 132 km E of Likoma, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 27 km² | 42 km NE of Likoma, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 54 km² | 61 km SSE of Mzimba, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 14 km² | 29 km WSW of Karonga, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 14 km² | 22 km W of Livingstonia, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 12 km² | 103 km E of Likoma, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 22 km² | 76 km E of Likoma, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 17 km² | 74 km SSW of Karonga, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 15 km² | 83 km ENE of Likoma, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 14 km² | 47 km WNW of Nkhotakota, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 26 km² | 37 km W of Karonga, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 29 km² | 40 km ESE of Mzimba, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 31 km² | 84 km E of Likoma, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 22 km² | 63 km E of Likoma, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 13 km² | 34 km SE of Likoma, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 92 km² | 76 km E of Likoma, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 11 km² | 69 km SSE of Mzimba, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 11 km² | 62 km NW of Nkhotakota, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 27 km² | 31 km NW of Kasungu, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 19 km² | 56 km NNW of Rumphi, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 11 km² | 88 km E of Likoma, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 24 km² | 95 km WNW of Blantyre, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 18 km² | 91 km WSW of Blantyre, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 11 km² | 29 km WNW of Mwanza, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 12 km² | 29 km SE of Rumphi, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 16 km² | 100 km E of Likoma, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 16 km² | 36 km E of Nsanje, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 13 km² | 67 km ESE of Likoma, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 21 km² | 117 km W of Blantyre, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 14 km² | 88 km WNW of Blantyre, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 30 km² | 87 km SSE of Blantyre, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 18 km² | 84 km W of Blantyre, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 15 km² | 81 km S of Lilongwe, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 14 km² | 20 km SW of Nsanje, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 28 km² | 36 km ENE of Nsanje, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 11 km² | 91 km S of Lilongwe, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 12 km² | 66 km SSW of Karonga, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 10 km² | 24 km WSW of Livingstonia, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 16 km² | 84 km SSW of Karonga, Malawi | Inactive |
Largest fires on record
| Area | Location | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7,281 km² | 40 km SE of Mzimba, Malawi | Active | |
| 92 km² | 76 km E of Likoma, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 78 km² | 94 km WNW of Blantyre, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 63 km² | 46 km SSW of Ngabu, Malawi | Active | |
| 57 km² | 25 km NE of Mzuzu, Malawi | Active | |
| 56 km² | 31 km W of Karonga, Malawi | Active | |
| 56 km² | 84 km SSE of Blantyre, Malawi | Active | |
| 54 km² | 61 km SSE of Mzimba, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 32 km² | 76 km SSE of Blantyre, Malawi | Active | |
| 31 km² | 84 km E of Likoma, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 30 km² | 87 km SSE of Blantyre, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 29 km² | 40 km ESE of Mzimba, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 28 km² | 36 km ENE of Nsanje, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 28 km² | 35 km ENE of Rumphi, Malawi | Inactive | |
| 28 km² | 120 km S of Lilongwe, Malawi | Active |
Major fires per year
Year
| 2026 | 80 | 7,281 km² |
| 2025 | 2 | 63 km² |