A M4.8 earthquake struck under land 40 kilometer from Pārsābād in Iran in the morning of Wednesday November 8th, 2023. Other countries near the epicenter include Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia.
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Earthquake Summary
The earthquake struck on land in Iran, 40 kilometer (25 mi) south-east of Pārsābād in Ardabīl. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 53 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.
| Date and Time: | Nov 8, 2023 09:18 (Baku Time) - Nov 8, 2023 05:18 Universal Time. |
|---|---|
| Location: | 40 km SE of Pārsābād, Ardabīl, Iran. Coordinates 39°21'24"N 48°11'56"E. |
| Map: |  Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps. |
| Magnitude: | MAG 4.8 Detected by 51 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.079 . |
| Depth: | 53 km (33 mi) A quite 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
4 countries can be found within 300km of the epicenter of this earthquake: Azerbaijan , Iran , Armenia and Russia .
The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Jalilabad in Jalilabad, Azerbaijan. Jalilabad is located 30 kilometer (19 mi) west-northwest of the epicenter.
Major cities near this earthquake: Tabriz is located 218 km to the southwest. Baku is located 184 km to the north-east. Ardabīl is located 123 km to the south.
The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake.
Overview of nearby places
| Distance | Place |
|---|---|
| 30 km (19 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Jalilabad Jalilabad, Azerbaijan. |
| 32 km (20 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Pushkino Bilǝsuvar, Azerbaijan. |
| 40 km (25 mi) NW from epicenter |
Pārsābād Ardabīl, Iran. |
| 58 km (36 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Imishli İmişli, Azerbaijan. |
| 61 km (38 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Əhmədbəyli Saatlı, Azerbaijan. |
| 66 km (41 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Saatlı Saatlı, Azerbaijan. |
| 68 km (42 mi) NW from epicenter |
Beylagan Beyləqan, Azerbaijan. |
| 73 km (45 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Salyan Salyan, Azerbaijan. |
| 76 km (47 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Sabirabad Sabirabad, Azerbaijan. |
| 87 km (54 mi) SE from epicenter |
Lankaran Lankaran Sahari, Azerbaijan. |
| 90 km (56 mi) E from epicenter |
Neftçala Neftçala, Azerbaijan. |
| 90 km (56 mi) NE from epicenter |
Şirvan Shirvan, Azerbaijan. |
| 94 km (58 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Fizuli Füzuli, Azerbaijan. |
| 99 km (62 mi) NE from epicenter |
Hacıqabul Hacıqabul, Azerbaijan. |
| 100 km (62 mi) NW from epicenter |
Agdzhabedy Ağcabǝdi, Azerbaijan. |
| 110 km (68 mi) N from epicenter |
Kyurdarmir Kürdǝmir, Azerbaijan. |
| 116 km (72 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Astara Astara, Azerbaijan. |
| 118 km (73 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Āstārā Gīlān, Iran. |
| 123 km (76 mi) S from epicenter |
Ardabīl Ardabīl, Iran. |
| 130 km (81 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Ağdam Ağdam, Azerbaijan. |
| 132 km (82 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Şuşa Shusha City, Azerbaijan. |
| 134 km (83 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Xankandi Xankǝndi, Azerbaijan. |
| 136 km (85 mi) N from epicenter |
Aghsu Ağsu, Azerbaijan. |
| 137 km (85 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Ujar Ucar, Azerbaijan. |
| 138 km (86 mi) SW from epicenter |
Ahar East Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 146 km (91 mi) NW from epicenter |
Barda Barda, Azerbaijan. |
| 147 km (91 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Shamakhi Şamaxı, Azerbaijan. |
| 149 km (93 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Göyçay Göyçay, Azerbaijan. |
| 154 km (96 mi) NW from epicenter |
Terter Tǝrtǝr, Azerbaijan. |
| 155 km (96 mi) W from epicenter |
Kapan Syunik, Armenia. |
| 156 km (97 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Ağdaş Ağdaş, Azerbaijan. |
| 160 km (99 mi) W from epicenter |
Goris Syunik, Armenia. |
| 166 km (103 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Yevlakh Yevlax, Azerbaijan. |
| 170 km (106 mi) NE from epicenter |
Lokbatan Baki, Azerbaijan. |
| 180 km (112 mi) NE from epicenter |
Khirdalan Abşeron, Azerbaijan. |
| 183 km (114 mi) NE from epicenter |
Bilajari Baki, Azerbaijan. |
| 184 km (114 mi) NE from epicenter |
Baku Baki, Azerbaijan. |
| 184 km (114 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Hashtpar Gīlān, Iran. |
| 184 km (114 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Mingelchaur Mingǝcevir, Azerbaijan. |
| 186 km (116 mi) NE from epicenter |
Sumqayıt Sumqayit, Azerbaijan. |
| 191 km (119 mi) NE from epicenter |
Qaraçuxur Baki, Azerbaijan. |
| 192 km (119 mi) NE from epicenter |
Bakıxanov Baki, Azerbaijan. |
| 195 km (121 mi) S from epicenter |
Khalkhāl Ardabīl, Iran. |
| 197 km (122 mi) NE from epicenter |
Hövsan Baki, Azerbaijan. |
| 211 km (131 mi) NW from epicenter |
Göygöl Goygol Rayon, Azerbaijan. |
| 215 km (134 mi) NW from epicenter |
Ganja Gǝncǝ, Azerbaijan. |
| 216 km (134 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Divichibazar Siyǝzǝn, Azerbaijan. |
| 218 km (135 mi) SW from epicenter |
Tabriz East Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 222 km (138 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Sheki Shaki, Azerbaijan. |
| 224 km (139 mi) N from epicenter |
Quba Quba, Azerbaijan. |
| 231 km (144 mi) N from epicenter |
Qusar Qusar, Azerbaijan. |
| 234 km (145 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Marand East Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 236 km (147 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Bandar-e Anzalī Gīlān, Iran. |
| 240 km (149 mi) W from epicenter |
Nakhchivan Nakhichevan, Azerbaijan. |
| 240 km (149 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Xaçmaz Xaçmaz, Azerbaijan. |
| 247 km (153 mi) NW from epicenter |
Shamkhor Şǝmkir, Azerbaijan. |
| 261 km (162 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Rasht Gīlān, Iran. |
| 282 km (175 mi) N from epicenter |
Belidzhi Dagestan, Russia. |
| 285 km (177 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Gavar Gegharkunik, Armenia. |
| 285 km (177 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Zaqatala Zaqatala, Azerbaijan. |
| 295 km (183 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Khowy West Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 299 km (186 mi) S from epicenter |
Zanjān Zanjan, Iran. |
Shaking reported by 2 people in 2 countries
People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 2 people have reported shaking in 2 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:
- Pushkino, Biləsuvar, Azerbaijan: 1 person.
- Garmi, Ardabīl, Iran: 1 person.
Aftershocks detected
Since this main shock, 1 smaller aftershock was detected. At a distance of 13 km (8 mi) south-southeast of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 2 hrs later. It measured a magnitude of 4.4
Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks
| Classification | Magnitude | When | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Shock This Earthquake |
M 4.8 |
Nov 8, 2023 09:18 (Baku Time) | - |
| Aftershock | M 4.4 |
2 hrs later Nov 8, 2023 11:09 (Baku Time) | 13 km (8 mi) SSE from Main Shock. |
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.
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 September 3rd, 2023, when a 4.9 magnitude earthquake hit 106 km (66 mi) further north. An even stronger magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck on November 7th, 2019.
In total, 27 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.8 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 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 | Not this earthquake. This earthquake appears to have struck on land far from any coast. |
Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 4.8. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 53 km (33 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami. |
Sources
Last updated 03/12/23 08:18 (). 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 us7000l9ht
- European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20231108_0000050
- Geonames.org: World Cities Database
- Google Maps: Static API
- Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database
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