1969 Sardo earthquakes
The 1969 Sardo earthquakes, which occurred from March 29, 1969 to April 05, 1969 was an earthquake swarm of three events with magnitudes of 6.2  and 6.1  in the Afar Region, Ethiopia. All three tremors had estimated intensities of between IX (Violent) and VIII (Severe) respectively. It killed a total of about 20–40 people and further injuring 160 as well. Tectonic setting 
The Afar Region is set in a tectonic boundary with three plates in a Y-shaped configuration. This makes Ethiopia home to one of the most seismic regions in all of Africa. It is also located in the Main Ethiopian Rift, part of the greater East African Rift which have been known to have been where frequent geological activity, one of the most common is the possible separation of East Africa from the mainland. The Main Ethiopian rift is a central valley some 84km wide and is extending ESE-WNW at a rate of about 2.5mm/yr. Ethiopia has experienced numerous earthquake similar to this such as in 1961 and 1847. Earthquakes 
The first of the earthquake sequence had a magnitude of 6.2 and was the most destructive of the three causing the 20-40 deaths and 160 injuries as well as most of the damage. The second and third earthquakes both with magnitudes of 6.1 were fortunately less worse however still caused some damage and recorded with high intensities. Numerous surface faultings and displacement were also caused, the main event caused left-lateral displacements and throws northeast of 75 cm near Sardo. The April event also caused visible surface faultings near Sardo with 70 cm vertically and 50 cm horizontally. Damage 
The village of Sardo (Serdo) suffered most of the impact due to it being the nearest to the epicenter. Poor infrastructure and framing was said to be blamed for the widespread severity of the damage. Some of the local huts in the area were made mostly of mud, which also resulted in the many deaths. The sequence triggered numerous rockslides blocking roads and transportation between the other parts of Ethiopia, as well as the outside in nearby Djibouti where moderate jolts were felt. Many of the residents who survived the event fled to the nearby village of Loggia. See also 
 List of earthquakes in Ethiopia
 List of earthquakes in 1969
 East African Rift
 Great Rift Valley, Ethiopia

References

External links 
Summary of the Sardo earthquakes

Earthquakes in Africa
Natural disasters in Ethiopia
Sardo
Sardo earthquake
Earthquake clusters, swarms, and sequences
1969 disasters in Ethiopia