In the night of Sunday September 3rd, 2023, a shallow MAG-4.3 earthquake hit under land 190 kilometer from Komsomolsk-on-Amur in Russia.
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Earthquake Summary
The earthquake struck on land in Russia, 190 kilometer (118 mi) northwest of Komsomolsk-on-Amur in Khabarovsk. 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: | Sep 3, 2023 01:33 (Vladivostok Time) - Sep 2, 2023 15:33 Universal Time. |
|---|---|
| Location: | 190 km NW of Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Khabarovsk, Russia. Coordinates 51°50'19"N 135°13'42"E. |
| Map: |  Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps. |
| Magnitude: | MAG 4.3 Detected by 23 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.111 . |
| 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
This earthquake may have been felt in Russia . The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Komsomolsk-on-Amur in Khabarovsk, Russia. Komsomolsk-on-Amur is located 190 kilometer (118 mi) northwest of the epicenter.
Overview of nearby places
| Distance | Place |
|---|---|
| 190 km (118 mi) SE from epicenter |
Komsomolsk-on-Amur Khabarovsk, Russia. |
| 212 km (132 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Amursk Khabarovsk, Russia. |
Risk of aftershocks?
We have not yet detected any foreshocks or aftershocks (MAG-2.5 or higher) within 100km (62 mi) of this earthquake.
Aftershocks are usually at least 1 order of magnitude less strong than main shocks. The more time passes, the smaller the chance and likely strength of any potential aftershocks.
The chance that a significant earthquake like this one is followed by an even larger earthquake is not so large. On average, scientists estimate a 94% chance that a major earthquake will not be followed by an even larger one. It is still adviced to be aware of this risk
Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).This is the strongest earthquake in 3 years
Earthquakes of this strength are not so common in the region, but it's not the first time. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since September 5th, 2020, when a 4.3 magnitude earthquake hit 96 km (59 mi) further south. An even stronger magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck on June 14th, 2018.
In total, 2 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.3 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 5 years.
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 4.3. 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 01/11/23 08:08 (). 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.
- US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us7000ksvu
- European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20230902_0000146
- Geonames.org: World Cities Database
- Google Maps: Static API
- Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database
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