Shallow M4.5 Earthquake struck on Saturday Afternoon near Khowy in Iran.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on June 17th, 2023. Last updated August 16th, 2023.

A shallow Magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck under land 9 kilometer from Khowy in Iran in the late afternoon of Saturday June 17th, 2023. Other nearby countries are Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Armenia and Iraq.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Iran, 9 kilometer (6 mi) south 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:	Jun 17, 2023 17:00 (Tehran Time) - Jun 17, 2023 12:30 Universal Time.
Location:	9 km south of Khowy, West Azerbaijan, Iran. Coordinates 38°28'1"N 44°56'26"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 4.5 Detected by 71 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.064 .
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.

Impact

The US Geographic Survey (USGS) describes the impact of this earthquake as follows:

At least 35 persons injured at Khoy.

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake struck within proximity of multiple countries. Iran , Azerbaijan , Türkiye , Armenia and Iraq are all within 300km distance of its epicenter.

The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Khowy in West Azerbaijan, Iran. Khowy is located 9 kilometer (6 mi) south of the epicenter.

Multiple major population centers exist within 300km of the earthquake that struck today. Khowy is located 9 km to the north. Tabriz is located 126 km to the east-southeast. Al Mawşil al Jadīdah is located 287 km to the southwest.

An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place
9 km (6 mi) N from epicenter	Khowy West Azerbaijan, Iran.
34 km (21 mi) SSW from epicenter	Salmās West Azerbaijan, Iran.
48 km (30 mi) N from epicenter	Qarah Ẕīā’ od Dīn West Azerbaijan, Iran.
73 km (45 mi) E from epicenter	Marand East Azerbaijan, Iran.
92 km (57 mi) NNE from epicenter	Nakhchivan Nakhichevan, Azerbaijan.
102 km (63 mi) S from epicenter	Orūmīyeh West Azerbaijan, Iran.
115 km (71 mi) SSW from epicenter	Yüksekova Hakkâri, Türkiye.
126 km (78 mi) ESE from epicenter	Tabriz East Azerbaijan, Iran.
133 km (83 mi) SSW from epicenter	Şemdinli Hakkâri, Türkiye.
136 km (85 mi) W from epicenter	Van Van, Türkiye.
138 km (86 mi) SE from epicenter	Ajab Shīr East Azerbaijan, Iran.
141 km (88 mi) NNW from epicenter	Doğubayazıt Ağrı, Türkiye.
142 km (88 mi) NE from epicenter	Hats’avan Syunik, Armenia.
145 km (90 mi) SW from epicenter	Hakkâri Hakkâri, Türkiye.
151 km (94 mi) WNW from epicenter	Erciş Van, Türkiye.
151 km (94 mi) ENE from epicenter	Kapan Syunik, Armenia.
153 km (95 mi) N from epicenter	Ararat Ararat, Armenia.
159 km (99 mi) SE from epicenter	Bonāb East Azerbaijan, Iran.
159 km (99 mi) S from epicenter	Oshnavīyeh West Azerbaijan, Iran.
162 km (101 mi) NW from epicenter	Diyadin Ağrı, Türkiye.
168 km (104 mi) NE from epicenter	Goris Syunik, Armenia.
170 km (106 mi) NNW from epicenter	Artashat Ararat, Armenia.
173 km (107 mi) SSE from epicenter	Naqadeh West Azerbaijan, Iran.
179 km (111 mi) NNW from epicenter	Iğdır Iğdır, Türkiye.
185 km (115 mi) E from epicenter	Ahar East Azerbaijan, Iran.
194 km (121 mi) N from epicenter	Yerevan Yerevan, Armenia.
195 km (121 mi) W from epicenter	Adilcevaz Bitlis, Türkiye.
196 km (122 mi) SSE from epicenter	Mīāndoāb West Azerbaijan, Iran.
197 km (122 mi) NNW from epicenter	Vagharshapat Armavir, Armenia.
197 km (122 mi) S from epicenter	Piranshahr West Azerbaijan, Iran.
199 km (124 mi) WNW from epicenter	Patnos Ağrı, Türkiye.
202 km (126 mi) SSE from epicenter	Mahābād West Azerbaijan, Iran.
203 km (126 mi) N from epicenter	Abovyan Kotayk, Armenia.
205 km (127 mi) S from epicenter	Soran Arbīl, Iraq.
210 km (130 mi) NNW from epicenter	Ashtarak Aragatsotn, Armenia.
210 km (130 mi) N from epicenter	Gavar Gegharkunik, Armenia.
212 km (132 mi) NE from epicenter	Şuşa Shusha City, Azerbaijan.
215 km (134 mi) NW from epicenter	Ağrı Ağrı, Türkiye.
216 km (134 mi) W from epicenter	Ahlat Bitlis, Türkiye.
217 km (135 mi) NE from epicenter	Xankandi Xankǝndi, Azerbaijan.
228 km (142 mi) NE from epicenter	Fizuli Füzuli, Azerbaijan.
231 km (144 mi) W from epicenter	Tatvan Bitlis, Türkiye.
241 km (150 mi) WNW from epicenter	Bulanık Muş, Türkiye.
241 km (150 mi) NE from epicenter	Ağdam Ağdam, Azerbaijan.
244 km (152 mi) SSE from epicenter	Būkān West Azerbaijan, Iran.
246 km (153 mi) SW from epicenter	Zaxo Duhok, Iraq.
247 km (153 mi) SW from epicenter	Dihok Duhok, Iraq.
248 km (154 mi) S from epicenter	Hajiawa Halabja Governorate, Iraq.
249 km (155 mi) SW from epicenter	Sīnah Duhok, Iraq.
256 km (159 mi) WSW from epicenter	Silopi Şırnak, Türkiye.
263 km (163 mi) N from epicenter	Vanadzor Lori, Armenia.
264 km (164 mi) NNE from epicenter	Göygöl Goygol Rayon, Azerbaijan.
267 km (166 mi) SSW from epicenter	Erbil Arbīl, Iraq.
269 km (167 mi) WSW from epicenter	Siirt Siirt, Türkiye.
270 km (168 mi) NE from epicenter	Terter Tǝrtǝr, Azerbaijan.
273 km (170 mi) ENE from epicenter	Beylagan Beyləqan, Azerbaijan.
273 km (170 mi) SSE from epicenter	Saqqez Kordestān, Iran.
275 km (171 mi) NNE from epicenter	Ganja Gǝncǝ, Azerbaijan.
275 km (171 mi) NNW from epicenter	Gyumri Shirak, Armenia.
278 km (173 mi) NNE from epicenter	Shamkhor Şǝmkir, Azerbaijan.
279 km (173 mi) NE from epicenter	Agdzhabedy Ağcabǝdi, Azerbaijan.
283 km (176 mi) NE from epicenter	Barda Barda, Azerbaijan.
285 km (177 mi) NW from epicenter	Kars Kars, Türkiye.
286 km (178 mi) SW from epicenter	Mosul Nineveh, Iraq.
287 km (178 mi) SW from epicenter	Al Mawşil al Jadīdah Nineveh, Iraq.
287 km (178 mi) SSE from epicenter	Bāneh Kordestān, Iran.
293 km (182 mi) E from epicenter	Ardabīl Ardabīl, Iran.
294 km (183 mi) N from epicenter	Qazax Qazax, Azerbaijan.
298 km (185 mi) WNW from epicenter	Hınıs Erzurum, Türkiye.

Shaking reported by 1 person

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 1 person has reported shaking in one place in Iran.We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

Khoi, Azarbayejān-e Gharbi, Iran: 1 person.

4 Aftershocks detected

After this earthquake struck, 4 smaller aftershocks occurred. Just 2 days after this main shock, an earthquake measuring MAG-4.2 was detected 59 km (36 mi) northwest of this earthquake.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

Detected MAG2.5+ earthquakes within within 100km (62 mi), that occurred in the three days before and after the main shock.
Classification	Magnitude	When	Where
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 4.5	Jun 17, 2023 17:00 (Tehran Time)	-
Aftershock	M 2.6	8 hrs later Jun 18, 2023 00:41 (Tehran Time)	10 km (6 mi) NNW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.4	10 hrs later Jun 18, 2023 02:42 (Tehran Time)	22 km (13 mi) ENE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.7	2 days later Jun 19, 2023 08:20 (Tehran Time)	10 km (6 mi) NW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.2	2 days later Jun 19, 2023 14:45 (Tehran Time)	59 km (36 mi) NW from Main Shock.

More earthquakes coming?

The risk of aftershocks decreases rapidly over time. Usually, aftershocks are at least one order of magnitude lower than a main shock.

In only six percent of cases, significant earthquakes are followed by a larger main shock, making the current earthquake a foreshock. While the chance of this happening is not so large, it is adviced to maintain cautiousness in the hours and days following a major earthquake.

Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).

Earthquakes like this happen often in the region

Earthquakes of this strength are very common in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since May 22nd, 2023, when a 4.5 magnitude earthquake hit 255 km (159 mi) further east-southeast. An even stronger magnitude 6 earthquake struck on February 23rd, 2020.

In total, 52 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.5 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 2 months.

Tsunami very unlikely

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

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 4.5. 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 16/08/23 06:37 (). This article contains currently available information about the earthquake and is automatically composed. We continue to update this article up to a few days after the earthquake occurred.