A Magnitude 4.3 earthquake struck under land 68 kilometer from Ardabīl in Iran in the night of Wednesday November 15th, 2023. Other countries near the epicenter include Azerbaijan and Armenia.
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Earthquake Summary
The earthquake struck on land in Iran, 68 kilometer (42 mi) west of Ardabīl. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 37 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.
| Date and Time: | Nov 15, 2023 00:43 (Tehran Time) - Nov 14, 2023 21:13 Universal Time. |
|---|---|
| Location: | 68 km west of Ardabīl, Iran. Coordinates 38°17'13"N 47°31'12"E. |
| Map: |  Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps. |
| Magnitude: | MAG 4.3 Detected by 29 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.099 . |
| Depth: | 37 km (23 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
This earthquake struck within proximity of multiple countries. Iran , Azerbaijan and Armenia are all within 300km distance of its epicenter. Futher away, this earthquake may also have been felt in Türkiye.
Located 45 kilometer (28 mi) east-southeast of the epicenter of this earthquake, Ahar (East Azerbaijan, Iran) is the nearest significant population center.
Major cities near this earthquake: Tabriz is located 110 km to the west-southwest. Ardabīl is located 68 km to the east. Rasht is located 214 km to the east-southeast.
An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below.
Overview of nearby places
| Distance | Place |
|---|---|
| 45 km (28 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Ahar East Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 68 km (42 mi) E from epicenter |
Ardabīl Ardabīl, Iran. |
| 99 km (62 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Hashtrūd East Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 110 km (68 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Tabriz East Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 116 km (72 mi) SE from epicenter |
Khalkhāl Ardabīl, Iran. |
| 119 km (74 mi) E from epicenter |
Āstārā Gīlān, Iran. |
| 120 km (75 mi) E from epicenter |
Astara Astara, Azerbaijan. |
| 127 km (79 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Lankaran Lankaran Sahari, Azerbaijan. |
| 133 km (83 mi) NE from epicenter |
Jalilabad Jalilabad, Azerbaijan. |
| 133 km (83 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Hashtpar Gīlān, Iran. |
| 141 km (88 mi) NW from epicenter |
Kapan Syunik, Armenia. |
| 150 km (93 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Fizuli Füzuli, Azerbaijan. |
| 153 km (95 mi) W from epicenter |
Marand East Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 155 km (96 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Pārsābād Ardabīl, Iran. |
| 158 km (98 mi) NE from epicenter |
Pushkino Bilǝsuvar, Azerbaijan. |
| 166 km (103 mi) SW from epicenter |
Bonāb East Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 166 km (103 mi) N from epicenter |
Beylagan Beyləqan, Azerbaijan. |
| 169 km (105 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Ajab Shīr East Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 170 km (106 mi) NW from epicenter |
Goris Syunik, Armenia. |
| 177 km (110 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Şuşa Shusha City, Azerbaijan. |
| 182 km (113 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Imishli İmişli, Azerbaijan. |
| 183 km (114 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Xankandi Xankǝndi, Azerbaijan. |
| 187 km (116 mi) NW from epicenter |
Hats’avan Syunik, Armenia. |
| 192 km (119 mi) SW from epicenter |
Mīāndoāb West Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 193 km (120 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Bandar-e Anzalī Gīlān, Iran. |
| 193 km (120 mi) NE from epicenter |
Salyan Salyan, Azerbaijan. |
| 193 km (120 mi) NE from epicenter |
Neftçala Neftçala, Azerbaijan. |
| 193 km (120 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Əhmədbəyli Saatlı, Azerbaijan. |
| 196 km (122 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Ağdam Ağdam, Azerbaijan. |
| 196 km (122 mi) N from epicenter |
Agdzhabedy Ağcabǝdi, Azerbaijan. |
| 197 km (122 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Saatlı Saatlı, Azerbaijan. |
| 197 km (122 mi) SE from epicenter |
Fūman Gīlān, Iran. |
| 198 km (123 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Shāhīn Dezh West Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 199 km (124 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Zanjān Zanjan, Iran. |
| 208 km (129 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Sabirabad Sabirabad, Azerbaijan. |
| 210 km (130 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Nakhchivan Nakhichevan, Azerbaijan. |
| 213 km (132 mi) S from epicenter |
Takāb West Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 214 km (133 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Rasht Gīlān, Iran. |
| 220 km (137 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Şirvan Shirvan, Azerbaijan. |
| 226 km (140 mi) W from epicenter |
Khowy West Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 228 km (142 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Būkān West Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 229 km (142 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Orūmīyeh West Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 230 km (143 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Hacıqabul Hacıqabul, Azerbaijan. |
| 232 km (144 mi) SW from epicenter |
Mahābād West Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 234 km (145 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Terter Tǝrtǝr, Azerbaijan. |
| 235 km (146 mi) N from epicenter |
Barda Barda, Azerbaijan. |
| 235 km (146 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Kyurdarmir Kürdǝmir, Azerbaijan. |
| 239 km (149 mi) SW from epicenter |
Naqadeh West Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 241 km (150 mi) W from epicenter |
Salmās West Azerbaijan, Iran. |
| 248 km (154 mi) N from epicenter |
Ujar Ucar, Azerbaijan. |
| 252 km (157 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Saqqez Kordestān, Iran. |
| 261 km (162 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Langarūd Gīlān, Iran. |
| 261 km (162 mi) N from epicenter |
Yevlakh Yevlax, Azerbaijan. |
| 262 km (163 mi) N from epicenter |
Ağdaş Ağdaş, Azerbaijan. |
| 263 km (163 mi) SE from epicenter |
Alvand Zanjan, Iran. |
| 264 km (164 mi) N from epicenter |
Göyçay Göyçay, Azerbaijan. |
| 265 km (165 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Aghsu Ağsu, Azerbaijan. |
| 276 km (171 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Göygöl Goygol Rayon, Azerbaijan. |
| 278 km (173 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Shamakhi Şamaxı, Azerbaijan. |
| 278 km (173 mi) N from epicenter |
Mingelchaur Mingǝcevir, Azerbaijan. |
| 284 km (176 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Ganja Gǝncǝ, Azerbaijan. |
| 293 km (182 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Bāneh Kordestān, Iran. |
| 294 km (183 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Yüksekova Hakkâri, Türkiye. |
| 296 km (184 mi) NE from epicenter |
Lokbatan Baki, Azerbaijan. |
| 297 km (185 mi) NW from epicenter |
Ararat Ararat, Armenia. |
Shaking reported by 2 people
People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 2 people have reported shaking in one place in 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:
- Meshkinshahr, Ardabīl, Iran: 2 people.
Aftershocks detected
After this earthquake struck, 1 smaller aftershock occurred. At a distance of 10 km (6 mi) north-northwest of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 54 mins later. It measured a magnitude of 3.6
Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks
| Classification | Magnitude | When | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Shock This Earthquake |
M 4.3 |
Nov 15, 2023 00:43 (Tehran Time) | - |
| Aftershock | M 3.6 |
54 mins later Nov 15, 2023 01:37 (Tehran Time) | 10 km (6 mi) NNW from Main Shock. |
More earthquakes coming?
The risk of aftershocks decreases rapidly over time. Usually, aftershocks are at least one order of magnitude lower than a main shock.
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).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 November 13th, 2023, when a 4.3 magnitude earthquake hit 270 km (168 mi) further west-northwest. An even stronger magnitude 6 earthquake struck on February 23rd, 2020.
In total, 87 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 month.
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 37 km (23 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami. |
Sources
Last updated 08/12/23 23:38 (). This article is automatically generated based on available data. We keep checking multiple sources for additional information. This article gets updated as new details on this earthquake become available.
- US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us6000lnfd
- European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20231114_0000211
- Geonames.org: World Cities Database
- Google Maps: Static API
- Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database
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