Unusually powerful M5.7 Earthquake hit near Dipayal in Nepal on Tuesday Afternoon.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on October 3rd, 2023. Last updated November 30th, 2023.

Under land 39 kilometer from Dipayal in Nepal, an unusually powerful MAG-5.7 earthquake occurred in the afternoon of Tuesday October 3rd, 2023. Around 32 million people have been exposed to shaking. India is also near its epicenter.

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Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Nepal, 39 kilometer (24 mi) north-east of Dipayal in Sudurpashchim Pradesh. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 13 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Oct 3, 2023 03:06PM (Kathmandu Time) - Oct 3, 2023 09:21 Universal Time.
Location:	39 km NE of Dipayal, Sudurpashchim Pradesh, Nepal. Coordinates 29°29'52"N 81°14'36"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.7 Detected by 36 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.052 .
Depth:	13 km (8 mi) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	VII Very Strong On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
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.

Minimal impact predicted

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

One person killed by a landslide and 27 injured in Bajhang. At least 1507 homes destroyed and 5601 damaged in the Achham, Baitadi, Bajhang and Bajura districts area. One home damaged at Someshwar, India.

Based on scientific estimates by the USGS, the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 86% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 99% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 10 million USD.

Roughly 32 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 32 million people. That is the expected population size of the area exposed to a level of shaking of II or higher on the Modified Mercalli scale according to the USGS.

Strong shaking and probably light damage may have been experienced by an estimated 74,650 people. At VI, it is the highest MMI level this earthquake has caused. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 23 million). In their region, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected.

People in 3 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Nepal , around 8 million people, with impact levels up to VI (strong shaking, probably light damage). Roughly 24 million people were exposed to shaking in India . Shaking was experienced by inhabitants of China too.

Nearby towns and cities

2 countries can be found within 300km of the epicenter of this earthquake: Nepal and India .

The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Dipayal in Sudurpashchim Pradesh, Nepal. Dipayal is located 39 kilometer (24 mi) north-east of the epicenter. The intensity of shaking and damage in Dipayal is estimated to be around level IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (light shaking, likely no damage).

Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Lucknow is located 297 km to the south (intensity unknown, possibly low). Bareilly is located 217 km to the southwest and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Morādābād is located 250 km to the west-southwest (intensity unknown, possibly low).

An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below. If places don't have intensity data available, it likely means the experienced impact in those places was fairly small.

Overview of nearby places

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is VII. The map below shows in which areas this earthquake was the most and least impactful. It is based on data from the US Geographic Survey.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Shaking reported by 112 people in 3 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 112 people have reported shaking in 57 places in 3 countries (India, Nepal, Pakistan).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

• Gurgaon, Haryana, India: 12 people.
• Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India: 7 people.
• Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India: 6 people.
• Ni Dilli, Delhi, India: 5 people.
• Bhalswa Jahangirpur, Delhi, India: 4 people.
• Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, India: 4 people.
• Lakhnau, Uttar Pradesh, India: 4 people.
• Faridabad, Haryana, India: 3 people.
• Amargadhi, Dadeldhura, Nepal: 3 people.
• Bareli, Uttar Pradesh, India: 3 people.

19 Aftershocks detected

Since this main shock, 19 smaller aftershocks were detected. At a distance of 7 km (5 mi) north of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 2 hrs later. It measured a magnitude of 4.8

In the days before this main shock, 1 smaller foreshock was detected. Nearby this earthquake a foreshock struck 25 mins earlier. It measured a magnitude of 4.9

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

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.

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

This is an unusually powerful earthquake

No earthquake of this strength has struck this region for a long time. Our data goes back 10 years, and no earthquakes measuring a magnitude of 5.7 or higher have been detected within 300 km (186 mi) of this epicenter.

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

Sources

Last updated 30/11/23 06:38 (). 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.

1. US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us6000lcgj
2. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20231003_0000072
3. Geonames.org: World Cities Database
4. Google Maps: Static API
5. Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database

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