By Asha Elmi - Reporter
GAROWE, Somalia, Aug. 29, 2026 - Puntland urged coastal communities to stay alert after a magnitude-6.0 earthquake struck offshore in the Gulf of Aden, telling fishermen to temporarily suspend activities at sea.
The quake hit at 21:07 UTC on Aug. 27 about 145 km north of Caluula at a depth of 10 km, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Relief and Disaster Management Minister Abdinasir Yusuf Haji said Friday residents in coastal districts, especially Bari and Ras Caseyr, should monitor developments and be prepared for possible effects.
He urged fishermen to suspend operations and bring boats and equipment ashore while authorities assess the situation.
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District and regional authorities should share the warning with residents, he said, and government agencies and humanitarian organizations should remain on standby.
Authorities will provide updates as information becomes available, Haji said. Residents should follow official announcements.
If conditions worsen, residents should move away from the shoreline and seek higher ground, he said.
The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System, a monitoring system supported by the U.N. and European Commission, assessed the quake as low expected humanitarian impact based on its characteristics and exposed population.