Is Montenegro an earthquake zone? Yes. The Institute of Hydrometeorology and Seismology records about 400 earthquakes above magnitude 1.2 in a seismically quiet year, and more than 30,000 in an active one. The coast and its hinterland are rated IX on the MCS intensity scale, the highest hazard in the country, while the far north-east is practically aseismic. The strongest recorded quake, on 15 April 1979, reached magnitude 7.0.
Most of these earthquakes are too small to feel. The figures below come from the seismological service of the Institute (ZHMS), checked on 25 September 2026.
Which parts of Montenegro face the greatest risk?
| Area | Expected intensity (MCS) | Notes |
| Coast and its hinterland | IX | Seismic zones of Ulcinj, Budva, the Bay of Kotor and Skadar Lake |
| Podgorica and surroundings | VIII | With a 63% probability within 100 years |
| Central Montenegro | Lower | A deep fault zone runs from northern Albania past Podgorica and Danilovgrad |
| Berane, Plav and the Piva area | Local zones | Berane and Plav have produced stronger quakes; Piva can have many small ones |
| Pljevlja to Bijelo Polje | Practically aseismic | The quietest part of the country |
The seismic hazard maps are part of the national standard MEST EN 1998-1:2015/NA:2015 (Eurocode 8), which designers use to size buildings for earthquake forces.
What happened in the 1979 earthquake?
| Indicator | Figure |
| Date and time | 15 April 1979, 07:19 local time |
| Magnitude | 7.0 on the Richter scale (ZHMS) |
| Intensity | IX along the whole Montenegrin coast and northern Albania |
| Deaths | 101 in Montenegro and 35 in Albania |
| Homeless | More than 100,000 people |
| Strongest aftershock | 24 May 1979, magnitude 6.3, under the sea off Budva |
The old towns of Budva and Ulcinj were badly damaged, and in October 1979 UNESCO listed the Kotor region as a World Heritage site, also on its list of heritage in danger. After the disaster, seismological studies of every municipality were carried out from 1980 to 1986.
What were the latest earthquakes?
| Date | Epicentre | Magnitude |
| 24 September 2026, 15:28 | South of Nikšić | 3.0, depth about 2 km |
| 6 August 2026, 03:01 | 2 km south of Ulcinj | 2.6, depth 15 km |
| 4 January 2026, 01:18 | About 8 km south-west of Velimlje, near Nikšić | 2.9 |
None of these caused damage. The Institute publishes a report for every stronger earthquake, with a map of the epicentre.
What should a buyer or tenant check?
Ask when the building was built, who designed it and whether it has a use permit; our checklist for viewing a flat covers the questions to ask. Earthquake damage is not automatically covered by a home policy, so check the listed risks in our guide to home insurance. If an engineer finds cracks or other weak points, the repairs are work for builders, such as those listed under renovation and construction on Glatko. In an emergency, call 112, as our guide to emergency numbers explains.
Frequently asked questions
Does Montenegro have earthquakes? Yes. About 400 above magnitude 1.2 are recorded in a quiet year, most too small to feel.
Which part of Montenegro has the highest earthquake risk? The coast and its hinterland, rated IX on the MCS scale.
What was the strongest earthquake in Montenegro? The earthquake of 15 April 1979, magnitude 7.0, which killed 101 people in Montenegro.
Is Podgorica at risk of earthquakes? Yes, but less than the coast: an intensity of VIII is expected with a 63% probability within 100 years.
Where can I see the latest earthquake in Montenegro? On the website of the Institute of Hydrometeorology and Seismology, which reports every stronger quake.
Which part of Montenegro is safest from earthquakes? The far north-east, between Pljevlja and Bijelo Polje, which is practically aseismic.
Sources
The hazard ratings and yearly counts come from ZHMS's pages on seismic hazard and seismic danger in Montenegro, and the August quake from its latest earthquake report. Casualties of 1979 come from Wikipedia, the September quake from Espreso, citing the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, and the January quake from Standard, citing the Institute. Checked on 25 September 2026. Fijaka is a classifieds platform and does not assess buildings; ask a structural engineer about a specific property.