On Friday Evening a Significant M5.7 Earthquake struck near Dailekh in Nepal.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on November 3rd, 2023. Last updated December 3rd, 2023.

Just before midnight of Friday November 3rd, 2023, a significant M5.7 earthquake hit under land 44 kilometer from Dailekh in Nepal. Earthquakes like this can cause significant economic damage and have a significant risk at casualties. India is also near its epicenter.

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Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Nepal, 44 kilometer (27 mi) east of Dailekh in Karnali Pradesh. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 33 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Nov 3, 2023 11:47PM (Kathmandu Time) - Nov 3, 2023 18:02 Universal Time.
Location:	44 km east of Dailekh, Karnali Pradesh, Nepal. Coordinates 28°51'6"N 82°9'48"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.7 Detected by 27 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.06 .
Depth:	33 km (20 mi) A quite shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	IX Violent 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.

Significant impact predicted

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

At least 157 people were killed, 600 people injured, 26,550 structures destroyed and 35,489 damaged in Jajarkot and Western Rukum Districts. Landslides reported in Jarjarkot and Western Rukum. Some buildings damaged at Bahraich and Jaipur, India.

Based on scientific estimates by the USGS, the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level YELLOW (significant). They expect an 35% likelyhood of between 10 and 100 fatalities, and a 93% chance that the number of fatalities falls between 1 and 10,000.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level YELLOW (significant). They expect an 35% likelyhood of between 10 and 100 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 91% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 1,000 million USD.

Roughly 44 million people exposed to shaking

An estimated 44 million have been exposed to shaking (An MMI or Modified Mercalli Intensity level II or higher) as a result of this earthquake according scientific estimates published by the USGS.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is VIII, which corresponds with severe shaking and likely moderate to heavy damage. Roughly 15,420 people are expected to be exposed to this level. The majority of people (roughly 37 million) live in an area exposed to level IV, where light shaking and likely no damage is expected.

People in 3 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Nepal , around 12 million people, with impact levels up to VIII (severe shaking, likely moderate to heavy damage). Roughly 31 million people were exposed to shaking in India . Shaking was experienced by inhabitants of China too.

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake struck within proximity of multiple countries. Nepal and India are both within 300km distance of its epicenter.

The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Dailekh in Karnali Pradesh, Nepal. Dailekh is located 44 kilometer (27 mi) east of the epicenter. The intensity of shaking and damage in Dailekh is estimated to be around level V on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (moderate shaking, very light damage).

Multiple major population centers exist within 300km of the earthquake that struck today. Lucknow is located 255 km to the south-southwest (intensity unknown, possibly low). Bareilly is located 272 km to the west-southwest (intensity unknown, possibly low). Gorakhpur is located 260 km to the south-southeast (intensity unknown, possibly low).

The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake. Where available, the estimated intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale in each place is included. Places where this information is omitted likely experienced little impact.

Overview of nearby places

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is VIII. 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 372 people in 3 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 372 people have reported shaking in 146 places in 3 countries (Bangladesh, India, Nepal).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

• Kathmandu, Kathmandu, Nepal: 19 people.
• Pokharā, Kaski, Nepal: 16 people.
• Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India: 13 people.
• Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India: 11 people.
• Lakhnau, Uttar Pradesh, India: 11 people.
• Phulwari, Bihar, India: 9 people.
• Lalitpur, Lalitpur, Nepal: 8 people.
• Tulsīpur, Dang Deokhuri, Nepal: 8 people.
• Bareli, Uttar Pradesh, India: 8 people.
• Banares, Uttar Pradesh, India: 7 people.

14 Aftershocks detected

This main shock was followed by 14 smaller aftershocks. At a distance of 11 km (7 mi) northwest of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 3 days later. It measured a magnitude of 5.3

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.

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.

This is the strongest earthquake in 9 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 April 25th, 2015, when a 6.6 magnitude earthquake hit 269 km (167 mi) further east-southeast. An even stronger magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck on April 25th, 2015.

In total, 2 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.7 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

Sources

Last updated 03/12/23 01:48 (). 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.

1. US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us7000l8p5
2. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20231103_0000249
3. Geonames.org: World Cities Database
4. Google Maps: Static API
5. Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database

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