Under land 11 kilometer from Khowy in Iran, a shallow and significant M5.2 earthquake occurred in the afternoon of Thursday March 16th, 2023. Other nearby countries are Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Armenia and Iraq.
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Earthquake Summary
The earthquake struck on land in Iran, 11 kilometer (7 mi) east-southeast of Khowy in West Azerbaijan. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 10 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.
| Date and Time: | Mar 16, 2023 15:17 (Tehran Time) - Mar 16, 2023 11:47 Universal Time. |
|---|---|
| Location: | 11 km ESE of Khowy, West Azerbaijan, Iran. Coordinates 38°29'39"N 45°3'46"E. |
| Map: |  Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps. |
| Magnitude: | MAG 5.2 Detected by 24 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.063 . |
| Depth: | 10 km (6 mi) A very shallow depth. |
| Tsunami Risk: | Tsunami very unlikely While this was a shallow earthquake, it appears to have occurred under land with a magnitude not strong enough to cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here. |
Nearby towns and cities
5 countries can be found within 300km of the epicenter of this earthquake: Iran , Azerbaijan , Türkiye , Armenia and Iraq .
Located 11 kilometer (7 mi) east-southeast of the epicenter of this earthquake, Khowy (West Azerbaijan, Iran) is the nearest significant population center.
Major cities near this earthquake: Khowy is located 11 km to the west-northwest. Tabriz is located 117 km to the east-southeast. Al Mawşil al Jadīdah is located 296 km to the southwest.
An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below.
Overview of nearby places
| Distance | Place |
|---|---|
| 11 km (7 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Khowy West Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 42 km (26 mi) SW from epicenter |
Salmās West Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 44 km (27 mi) N from epicenter |
Qarah Ẕīā’ od Dīn West Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 62 km (39 mi) E from epicenter |
Marand East Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 85 km (53 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Nakhchivan Nakhichevan, Azerbaijan. |
| 105 km (65 mi) S from epicenter |
Orūmīyeh West Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 117 km (73 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Tabriz East Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 123 km (76 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Yüksekova Hakkâri, Türkiye. |
| 133 km (83 mi) NE from epicenter |
Hats’avan Syunik, Armenia. |
| 134 km (83 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Ajab Shīr East Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 139 km (86 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Şemdinli Hakkâri, Türkiye. |
| 141 km (88 mi) NE from epicenter |
Kapan Syunik, Armenia. |
| 144 km (89 mi) NW from epicenter |
Doğubayazıt Ağrı, Türkiye. |
| 146 km (91 mi) W from epicenter |
Van Van, Türkiye. |
| 152 km (94 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Ararat Ararat, Armenia. |
| 154 km (96 mi) SW from epicenter |
Hakkâri Hakkâri, Türkiye. |
| 155 km (96 mi) SE from epicenter |
Bonāb East Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 158 km (98 mi) NE from epicenter |
Goris Syunik, Armenia. |
| 159 km (99 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Erciş Van, Türkiye. |
| 162 km (101 mi) S from epicenter |
Oshnavīyeh West Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 167 km (104 mi) NW from epicenter |
Diyadin Ağrı, Türkiye. |
| 169 km (105 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Artashat Ararat, Armenia. |
| 173 km (107 mi) S from epicenter |
Naqadeh West Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 175 km (109 mi) E from epicenter |
Ahar East Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 182 km (113 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Iğdır Iğdır, Türkiye. |
| 183 km (114 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Masis Ararat, Armenia. |
| 193 km (120 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Yerevan Yerevan, Armenia. |
| 193 km (120 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Mīāndoāb West Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 197 km (122 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Vagharshapat Armavir, Armenia. |
| 200 km (124 mi) S from epicenter |
Piranshahr West Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 201 km (125 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Mahābād West Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 201 km (125 mi) N from epicenter |
Abovyan Kotayk, Armenia. |
| 202 km (126 mi) NE from epicenter |
Şuşa Shusha City, Azerbaijan. |
| 207 km (129 mi) N from epicenter |
Gavar Gegharkunik, Armenia. |
| 207 km (129 mi) NE from epicenter |
Xankandi Xankǝndi, Azerbaijan. |
| 208 km (129 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Patnos Ağrı, Türkiye. |
| 210 km (130 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Ashtarak Aragatsotn, Armenia. |
| 210 km (130 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Soran Arbīl, Iraq. |
| 218 km (135 mi) NE from epicenter |
Fizuli Füzuli, Azerbaijan. |
| 221 km (137 mi) NW from epicenter |
Ağrı Ağrı, Türkiye. |
| 226 km (140 mi) W from epicenter |
Ahlat Bitlis, Türkiye. |
| 231 km (144 mi) NE from epicenter |
Ağdam Ağdam, Azerbaijan. |
| 242 km (150 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Būkān West Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 251 km (156 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Bulanık Muş, Türkiye. |
| 252 km (157 mi) S from epicenter |
Hajiawa Halabja Governorate, Iraq. |
| 256 km (159 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Göygöl Goygol Rayon, Azerbaijan. |
| 257 km (160 mi) SW from epicenter |
Dihok Duhok, Iraq. |
| 257 km (160 mi) SW from epicenter |
Zaxo Duhok, Iraq. |
| 259 km (161 mi) SW from epicenter |
Sīnah Duhok, Iraq. |
| 261 km (162 mi) N from epicenter |
Vanadzor Lori, Armenia. |
| 261 km (162 mi) NE from epicenter |
Terter Tǝrtǝr, Azerbaijan. |
| 262 km (163 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Beylagan Beyləqan, Azerbaijan. |
| 267 km (166 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Silopi Şırnak, Türkiye. |
| 268 km (167 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Ganja Gǝncǝ, Azerbaijan. |
| 269 km (167 mi) NE from epicenter |
Agdzhabedy Ağcabǝdi, Azerbaijan. |
| 271 km (168 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Saqqez Kordestān, Iran. |
| 272 km (169 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Shamkhor Şǝmkir, Azerbaijan. |
| 273 km (170 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Erbil Arbīl, Iraq. |
| 273 km (170 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Karaçoban Erzurum, Türkiye. |
| 274 km (170 mi) NE from epicenter |
Barda Barda, Azerbaijan. |
| 276 km (171 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Gyumri Shirak, Armenia. |
| 278 km (173 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Pārsābād Ardabīl, Iran. |
| 280 km (174 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Siirt Siirt, Türkiye. |
| 283 km (176 mi) E from epicenter |
Ardabīl Ardabīl, Iran. |
| 287 km (178 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Bāneh Kordestān, Iran. |
| 289 km (180 mi) NW from epicenter |
Kars Kars, Türkiye. |
| 290 km (180 mi) N from epicenter |
Qazax Qazax, Azerbaijan. |
| 295 km (183 mi) SW from epicenter |
Mosul Nineveh, Iraq. |
| 296 km (184 mi) SW from epicenter |
Al Mawşil al Jadīdah Nineveh, Iraq. |
| 296 km (184 mi) NE from epicenter |
Yevlakh Yevlax, Azerbaijan. |
Shaking reported by 18 people in 4 countries
People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 18 people have reported shaking in 9 places in 4 countries (Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Armenia).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.
Places with most reports:
- Orumiyeh, Azarbayejān-e Gharbi, Iran: 4 people.
- Tebriz, Azarbayejān-e Sharqi, Iran: 4 people.
- Khoi, Azarbayejān-e Gharbi, Iran: 3 people.
- Dilman, Azarbayejān-e Gharbi, Iran: 2 people.
- Van, Van, Turkey: 1 person.
- Mako, Azarbayejān-e Gharbi, Iran: 1 person.
- Azar Shahr, Azarbayejān-e Sharqi, Iran: 1 person.
- Sulaymaniyah, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq: 1 person.
- Jrvesh, Kotayk, Armenia: 1 person.
5 Aftershocks detected
This main shock was followed by 5 smaller aftershocks. A 3.8 magnitude earthquake hit 7 mins later 26 km (16 mi) east of this earthquake.
Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks
| Classification | Magnitude | When | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Shock This Earthquake |
M 5.2 |
Mar 16, 2023 15:17 (Tehran Time) | - |
| Aftershock | M 3.8 |
7 mins later Mar 16, 2023 15:24 (Tehran Time) | 26 km (16 mi) E from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 3.2 |
52 mins later Mar 16, 2023 16:09 (Tehran Time) | 6 km (4 mi) NW from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 3.7 |
14 hrs later Mar 17, 2023 04:59 (Tehran Time) | 4 km (2.5 mi) WSW from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 2.5 |
14 hrs later Mar 17, 2023 05:04 (Tehran Time) | 14 km (8 mi) WSW from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 3.2 |
1 day later Mar 17, 2023 16:53 (Tehran Time) | 16 km (10 mi) S from Main Shock. |
More earthquakes coming?
Earthquakes can create aftershocks. These are generally at least 1 magnitude lower than any main shock, and as time passes the chance and strength of aftershocks decreases.
It's always adviced to be cautious of the risk of a larger shock following any significant earthquake, however this risk is fairly small. There is a roughly 94 percent change that no larger main shock will follow in the days following this earthquake.
Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).Earthquakes like this are common in the region
Earthquakes of this strength occur quite regularly in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since January 28th, 2023, when a 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit 16 km (10 mi) further west-southwest. An even stronger magnitude 6 earthquake struck on February 23rd, 2020.
In total, 7 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.2 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every year.
Tsunami very unlikely
While MAG-6.5+ earthquakes may cause tsunami's, it appears that the epicenter of this earthquake hit under land. In addition, the reported depth is deeper than 100km, making the risk of a tsunami even less likely. However always stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.
Tsunami Risk Factors
| Factor | Under Sea? | MAG-6.5 or stronger? | Shallow depth? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explanation | Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami. | Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's. |
Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor. |
| This Earthquake | Not this earthquake. This earthquake appears to have struck on land far from any coast. |
Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 5.2. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 10 km (6 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami. |
Sources
Last updated 15/05/23 10:57 (). As more information on this earthquake becomes available this article will be updated. This article is automatically composed based on data originating from multiple sources.
- US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us7000jkel
- European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20230316_0000133
- Geonames.org: World Cities Database
- Google Maps: Static API
- Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database
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