Under land 31 kilometer from Lankaran in Azerbaijan, a MAG-4.9 earthquake occurred in the night of Wednesday August 23rd, 2023. Other nearby countries are Iran and Armenia.
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Earthquake Summary
The earthquake struck on land in Azerbaijan, 31 kilometer (19 mi) north-northwest of Lankaran in Lankaran Sahari. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 55 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.
| Date and Time: | Aug 23, 2023 01:23 (Baku Time) - Aug 22, 2023 21:23 Universal Time. |
|---|---|
| Location: | 31 km NNW of Lankaran, Lankaran Sahari, Azerbaijan. Coordinates 39°1'14"N 48°44'7"E. |
| Map: |  Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps. |
| Magnitude: | MAG 4.9 Detected by 14 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.083 . |
| Depth: | 55 km (34 mi) A quite shallow depth. |
| Tsunami Risk: | Tsunami very unlikely While this was a shallow earthquake in a coastal area, it appears to have occurred under land (16 km from the sea) with a magnitude that is usually 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:
One home destroyed and several damaged at Masalli.
Nearby towns and cities
This earthquake struck within proximity of multiple countries. Azerbaijan , Iran and Armenia are all within 300km distance of its epicenter.
The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Jalilabad in Jalilabad, Azerbaijan. Jalilabad is located 30 kilometer (19 mi) south-east of the epicenter.
Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Lankaran is located 31 km to the south-southeast. Baku is located 180 km to the north-northeast. Tabriz is located 237 km to the west-southwest.
An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below.
Overview of nearby places
| Distance | Place |
|---|---|
| 30 km (19 mi) NW from epicenter |
Jalilabad Jalilabad, Azerbaijan. |
| 31 km (19 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Lankaran Lankaran Sahari, Azerbaijan. |
| 51 km (32 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Pushkino Bilǝsuvar, Azerbaijan. |
| 59 km (37 mi) NE from epicenter |
Neftçala Neftçala, Azerbaijan. |
| 64 km (40 mi) S from epicenter |
Astara Astara, Azerbaijan. |
| 67 km (42 mi) S from epicenter |
Āstārā Gīlān, Iran. |
| 68 km (42 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Salyan Salyan, Azerbaijan. |
| 94 km (58 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Ardabīl Ardabīl, Iran. |
| 99 km (62 mi) NW from epicenter |
Pārsābād Ardabīl, Iran. |
| 100 km (62 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Əhmədbəyli Saatlı, Azerbaijan. |
| 103 km (64 mi) N from epicenter |
Şirvan Shirvan, Azerbaijan. |
| 106 km (66 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Saatlı Saatlı, Azerbaijan. |
| 111 km (69 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Imishli İmişli, Azerbaijan. |
| 112 km (70 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Sabirabad Sabirabad, Azerbaijan. |
| 115 km (71 mi) N from epicenter |
Hacıqabul Hacıqabul, Azerbaijan. |
| 127 km (79 mi) NW from epicenter |
Beylagan Beyləqan, Azerbaijan. |
| 137 km (85 mi) S from epicenter |
Hashtpar Gīlān, Iran. |
| 151 km (94 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Fizuli Füzuli, Azerbaijan. |
| 155 km (96 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Kyurdarmir Kürdǝmir, Azerbaijan. |
| 157 km (98 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Ahar East Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 157 km (98 mi) S from epicenter |
Khalkhāl Ardabīl, Iran. |
| 158 km (98 mi) NW from epicenter |
Agdzhabedy Ağcabǝdi, Azerbaijan. |
| 168 km (104 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Lokbatan Baki, Azerbaijan. |
| 175 km (109 mi) N from epicenter |
Aghsu Ağsu, Azerbaijan. |
| 179 km (111 mi) N from epicenter |
Shamakhi Şamaxı, Azerbaijan. |
| 180 km (112 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Baku Baki, Azerbaijan. |
| 181 km (112 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Khirdalan Abşeron, Azerbaijan. |
| 183 km (114 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Bandar-e Anzalī Gīlān, Iran. |
| 183 km (114 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Bilajari Baki, Azerbaijan. |
| 186 km (116 mi) NE from epicenter |
Qaraçuxur Baki, Azerbaijan. |
| 188 km (117 mi) NE from epicenter |
Bakıxanov Baki, Azerbaijan. |
| 189 km (117 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Sabunçu Baki, Azerbaijan. |
| 189 km (117 mi) NE from epicenter |
Amirdzhan Baki, Azerbaijan. |
| 189 km (117 mi) NW from epicenter |
Ağdam Ağdam, Azerbaijan. |
| 189 km (117 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Şuşa Shusha City, Azerbaijan. |
| 190 km (118 mi) NE from epicenter |
Hövsan Baki, Azerbaijan. |
| 191 km (119 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Ujar Ucar, Azerbaijan. |
| 192 km (119 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Hacı Zeynalabdin Sumqayit, Azerbaijan. |
| 192 km (119 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Zabrat Baki, Azerbaijan. |
| 192 km (119 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Xankandi Xankǝndi, Azerbaijan. |
| 192 km (119 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Sumqayıt Sumqayit, Azerbaijan. |
| 197 km (122 mi) NE from epicenter |
Biny Selo Baki, Azerbaijan. |
| 200 km (124 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Maştağa Baki, Azerbaijan. |
| 200 km (124 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Göyçay Göyçay, Azerbaijan. |
| 202 km (126 mi) W from epicenter |
Kapan Syunik, Armenia. |
| 204 km (127 mi) NW from epicenter |
Barda Barda, Azerbaijan. |
| 208 km (129 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Rasht Gīlān, Iran. |
| 210 km (130 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Ağdaş Ağdaş, Azerbaijan. |
| 213 km (132 mi) NW from epicenter |
Terter Tǝrtǝr, Azerbaijan. |
| 223 km (139 mi) NW from epicenter |
Yevlakh Yevlax, Azerbaijan. |
| 237 km (147 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Tabriz East Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 238 km (148 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Langarūd Gīlān, Iran. |
| 241 km (150 mi) NW from epicenter |
Mingelchaur Mingǝcevir, Azerbaijan. |
| 243 km (151 mi) N from epicenter |
Divichibazar Siyǝzǝn, Azerbaijan. |
| 261 km (162 mi) N from epicenter |
Quba Quba, Azerbaijan. |
| 262 km (163 mi) S from epicenter |
Zanjān Zanjan, Iran. |
| 265 km (165 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Marand East Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 269 km (167 mi) N from epicenter |
Qusar Qusar, Azerbaijan. |
| 270 km (168 mi) NW from epicenter |
Göygöl Goygol Rayon, Azerbaijan. |
| 272 km (169 mi) N from epicenter |
Xaçmaz Xaçmaz, Azerbaijan. |
| 274 km (170 mi) NW from epicenter |
Ganja Gǝncǝ, Azerbaijan. |
| 276 km (171 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Sheki Shaki, Azerbaijan. |
| 287 km (178 mi) W from epicenter |
Nakhchivan Nakhichevan, Azerbaijan. |
Shaking reported by 13 people in 2 countries
People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 13 people have reported shaking in 6 places in 2 countries (Azerbaijan, 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:
- Ardabīl, Ardabīl, Iran: 8 people.
- Buzovna, Bakı, Azerbaijan: 1 person.
- Lənkəran, Lənkəran, Azerbaijan: 1 person.
- Garmi, Ardabīl, Iran: 1 person.
- Herowābād, Ardabīl, Iran: 1 person.
- Tebriz, Azarbayejān-e Sharqi, Iran: 1 person.
Risk of aftershocks?
We have not yet detected any foreshocks or aftershocks (MAG-2.5 or higher) within 100km (62 mi) of this earthquake.
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 November 20th, 2021, when a 5 magnitude earthquake hit 190 km (118 mi) further north. An even stronger magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck on November 7th, 2019.
In total, 14 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.9 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 9 months.
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 | This earthquake appears to have struck on land near a coastal area (16 km from the sea). | Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 4.9. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 55 km (34 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami. |
Sources
Last updated 21/10/23 11:17 (). This article is automatically generated based on available data. We keep checking multiple sources for additional information. This article gets updated as new details on this earthquake become available.
- US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us7000kq79
- European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20230822_0000215
- Geonames.org: World Cities Database
- Google Maps: Static API
- Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database
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