On Friday Evening a Shallow M5.1 Earthquake struck near Dehlorān in Iran.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on November 10th, 2023. Last updated December 8th, 2023.

In the evening of Friday November 10th, 2023, a shallow and significant M5.1 earthquake hit under land 32 kilometer from Dehlorān in Iran. Around 14 million people have been exposed to shaking. Another country near the epicenter is Iraq.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Iran, 32 kilometer (20 mi) east-northeast of Dehlorān in Ilam Province. 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:	Nov 10, 2023 19:06 (Tehran Time) - Nov 10, 2023 15:36 Universal Time.
Location:	32 km ENE of Dehlorān, Ilam Province, Iran. Coordinates 32°47'1"N 47°35'42"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.1 Detected by 145 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.047 .
Depth:	10 km (6 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

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (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 66% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 96% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 10 million USD.

Roughly 14 million people exposed to shaking

The USGS has published a report estimating the number of people exposed to this earthquake. Acoording to their analysis, roughly 14 million have been exposed to shaking at an MMI level of II or higher.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is VI, which corresponds with strong shaking and probably light damage. Roughly 100 people are expected to be exposed to this level. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 9 million). In their region, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected.

People in 2 countries have been exposed to shaking. Roughly 9 million people were exposed to shaking in Iran , with level VI (strong shaking, probably light damage) as the highest recorded. In Iraq , around 4.9 million people.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
400	I	Not noticable	None
5,079,000	II	Very weak	None
8,762,000	III	Weak	Probably none
269,300	IV	Light	Likely none
10,940	V	Moderate	Very light
100	VI	Strong	Light
0	VII	Very Strong	Moderate
0	VIII	Severe	Moderate to heavy
0	IX	Violent	Heavy
0	X	Extreme	Very heavy

Nearby towns and cities

Iran and Iraq are both located within 300km distance of the epicenter of the earthquake.

Located 28 kilometer (17 mi) south-east of the epicenter of this earthquake, Ābdānān (Ilam Province, Iran) is the nearest significant population center. Ābdānān experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly IV. That level implies light shaking and likely no damage.

Major cities near this earthquake: Basrah is located 254 km to the south (intensity unknown, possibly low). Al Başrah al Qadīmah is located 254 km to the south (intensity unknown, possibly low). Ahvaz is located 192 km to the south-southeast and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage).

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

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
28 km (17 mi) NW from epicenter	Ābdānān Ilam Province, Iran.	IV Light
32 km (20 mi) WSW from epicenter	Dehlorān Ilam Province, Iran.	IV Light
45 km (28 mi) NNW from epicenter	Darreh Shahr Ilam Province, Iran.	IV Light
83 km (52 mi) N from epicenter	Kūhdasht Lorestan Province, Iran.	III Weak
89 km (55 mi) SE from epicenter	Shūsh Khuzestan, Iran.	III Weak
92 km (57 mi) WSW from epicenter	‘Alī al Gharbī Maysan, Iraq.	III Weak
106 km (66 mi) NE from epicenter	Khorramabad Lorestan Province, Iran.	III Weak
114 km (71 mi) SSW from epicenter	Al ‘Amārah Maysan, Iraq.	III Weak
135 km (84 mi) NNE from epicenter	Aleshtar Lorestan Province, Iran.	III Weak
143 km (89 mi) SE from epicenter	Shūshtar Khuzestan, Iran.	III Weak
145 km (90 mi) NW from epicenter	Īlām Ilam Province, Iran.	II Weak
147 km (91 mi) SSE from epicenter	Sūsangerd Khuzestan, Iran.	III Weak
148 km (92 mi) NNE from epicenter	Nūrābād Lorestan Province, Iran.	III Weak
155 km (96 mi) NE from epicenter	Aznā Lorestan Province, Iran.	III Weak
161 km (100 mi) WSW from epicenter	Al Ḩayy Wāsiţ, Iraq.	III Weak
164 km (102 mi) NE from epicenter	Borūjerd Lorestan Province, Iran.	III Weak
166 km (103 mi) N from epicenter	Harsīn Kermānshāh, Iran.	II Weak
169 km (105 mi) W from epicenter	Al Kūt Wāsiţ, Iraq.	III Weak
172 km (107 mi) NNE from epicenter	Nahāvand Hamadān, Iran.	II Weak
177 km (110 mi) NNW from epicenter	Kermanshah Kermānshāh, Iran.	II Weak
185 km (115 mi) NNW from epicenter	Kahrīz Kermānshāh, Iran.	III Weak
186 km (116 mi) ESE from epicenter	Masjed Soleymān Khuzestan, Iran.	III Weak
192 km (119 mi) SSE from epicenter	Ahvaz Khuzestan, Iran.	III Weak
194 km (121 mi) N from epicenter	Kangāvar Kermānshāh, Iran.	II Weak
203 km (126 mi) SW from epicenter	Ash Shaţrah Dhi Qar, Iraq.	III Weak
204 km (127 mi) NNE from epicenter	Malāyer Hamadān, Iran.	II Weak
207 km (129 mi) ENE from epicenter	Alīgūdarz Lorestan Province, Iran.	II Weak
222 km (138 mi) N from epicenter	Sonqor Kermānshāh, Iran.
228 km (142 mi) NNE from epicenter	Asadābād Hamadān, Iran.
230 km (143 mi) SSW from epicenter	Nasiriyah Dhi Qar, Iraq.	II Weak
232 km (144 mi) NNW from epicenter	Kāmyārān Kordestān, Iran.
236 km (147 mi) NNE from epicenter	Pasragad Branch Hamadān, Iran.
237 km (147 mi) W from epicenter	Al ‘Azīzīyah Wāsiţ, Iraq.
240 km (149 mi) NNE from epicenter	Hamadān Hamadān, Iran.
241 km (150 mi) NNE from epicenter	Āzādshahr Hamadān, Iran.
244 km (152 mi) NE from epicenter	Arāk Markazi, Iran.	II Weak
245 km (152 mi) S from epicenter	Al Hārithah Basra, Iraq.
246 km (153 mi) NW from epicenter	Sarpol-e Z̄ahāb Kermānshāh, Iran.	II Weak
250 km (155 mi) ENE from epicenter	Khomeyn Markazi, Iran.
254 km (158 mi) S from epicenter	Basrah Basra, Iraq.
254 km (158 mi) S from epicenter	Al Başrah al Qadīmah Basra, Iraq.
262 km (163 mi) ENE from epicenter	Golpāyegān Isfahan, Iran.
265 km (165 mi) WSW from epicenter	Ar Rumaythah Al Muthanná, Iraq.
266 km (165 mi) WSW from epicenter	Ad Dīwānīyah Al Qādisīyah, Iraq.
266 km (165 mi) S from epicenter	Az Zubayr Basra, Iraq.
266 km (165 mi) SSE from epicenter	Khorramshahr Khuzestan, Iran.
266 km (165 mi) N from epicenter	Qorveh Kordestān, Iran.
270 km (168 mi) SW from epicenter	As Samawah Al Muthanná, Iraq.
280 km (174 mi) SSE from epicenter	Abadan Khuzestan, Iran.
284 km (176 mi) E from epicenter	Fārsān Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Iran.
287 km (178 mi) NNW from epicenter	Sanandaj Kordestān, Iran.
298 km (185 mi) WNW from epicenter	Baqubah Diyālá, Iraq.
299 km (186 mi) W from epicenter	Al Ḩillah Bābil, Iraq.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is VI. 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

Earthquake Intensity Map based on Shakemap Data provided by USGS.

Shaking reported by 1 person

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 1 person has reported shaking in one place in Iraq.We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

Baghdad, Bagdad, Iraq: 1 person.

Risk of aftershocks?

We monitor for foreshocks or aftershocks that have a magnitude of 2.5+ and occur within 100km (62 mi) of the epicenter of this earthquake. So far no such earthquakes have been detected.

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 October 15th, 2023, when a 5.3 magnitude earthquake hit 260 km (161 mi) further south-east. An even stronger magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck on November 12th, 2017.

In total, 32 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.1 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 4 months.

Tsunami very unlikely

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

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 5.1. 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 08/12/23 19:38 (). 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.