A significant Magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck under land 52 kilometer from Braşov in Romania in the late afternoon of Monday September 16th, 2024. Moldova, Ukraine and Bulgaria are also near its epicenter.
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Earthquake Summary
The earthquake struck on land in Romania, 52 kilometer (32 mi) east of Braşov in Brașov. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 133 km.
| Date and Time: | Sep 16, 2024 17:40 (Bucharest Time) - Sep 16, 2024 14:40 Universal Time. |
|---|---|
| Location: | 52 km east of Braşov, Brașov, Romania. Coordinates 45°33'59"N 26°16'4"E. |
| Map: |  Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps. |
| Magnitude: | MAG 5.2 Detected by 34 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.053 . |
| Depth: | 133 km (83 mi) An intermediate depth. |
| Tsunami Risk: | Tsunami very unlikely Tsunami's are usually caused by MAG-6.5+ earthquakes, less than 100km shallow, and with an epicenter under sea. Neither of this seems to be the case. Always stay cautious - More info here. |
Nearby towns and cities
Romania , Moldova , Ukraine and Bulgaria are all located within 300km distance of the epicenter of the earthquake.
The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Săcele in Brașov, Romania. Săcele is located 44 kilometer (27 mi) east of the epicenter.
Multiple major population centers exist within 300km of the earthquake that struck today. Bucharest is located 127 km to the south. Braşov is located 52 km to the west. Ploieşti is located 71 km to the south-southwest.
The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake.
Overview of nearby places
| Distance | Place |
|---|---|
| 44 km (27 mi) W from epicenter |
Săcele Brașov, Romania. |
| 49 km (30 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Târgu Secuiesc Covasna, Romania. |
| 50 km (31 mi) NW from epicenter |
Sfântu Gheorghe Covasna, Romania. |
| 52 km (32 mi) W from epicenter |
Braşov Brașov, Romania. |
| 63 km (39 mi) SW from epicenter |
Breaza Prahova, Romania. |
| 63 km (39 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Mizil Prahova, Romania. |
| 64 km (40 mi) W from epicenter |
Râşnov Brașov, Romania. |
| 64 km (40 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Râmnicu Sărat Buzău, Romania. |
| 64 km (40 mi) SE from epicenter |
Buzău Buzău, Romania. |
| 64 km (40 mi) SW from epicenter |
Câmpina Prahova, Romania. |
| 65 km (40 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Codlea Brașov, Romania. |
| 68 km (42 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Băicoi Prahova, Romania. |
| 71 km (44 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Ploieşti Prahova, Romania. |
| 73 km (45 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Focșani Vrancea, Romania. |
| 74 km (46 mi) W from epicenter |
Zărnești Brașov, Romania. |
| 81 km (50 mi) SW from epicenter |
Moreni Dâmbovița, Romania. |
| 91 km (57 mi) NE from epicenter |
Adjud Vrancea, Romania. |
| 94 km (58 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Miercurea-Ciuc Harghita, Romania. |
| 95 km (59 mi) SW from epicenter |
Târgovişte Dâmbovița, Romania. |
| 96 km (60 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Tecuci Galați, Romania. |
| 96 km (60 mi) N from epicenter |
Comăneşti Bacău, Romania. |
| 99 km (62 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Urziceni Ialomița, Romania. |
| 103 km (64 mi) N from epicenter |
Moineşti Bacău, Romania. |
| 106 km (66 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Făgăraș Brașov, Romania. |
| 111 km (69 mi) NW from epicenter |
Odorheiu Secuiesc Harghita, Romania. |
| 120 km (75 mi) S from epicenter |
Voluntari Ilfov, Romania. |
| 121 km (75 mi) S from epicenter |
Sector 1 București, Romania. |
| 122 km (76 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Bacău Bacău, Romania. |
| 124 km (77 mi) S from epicenter |
Sector 2 București, Romania. |
| 127 km (79 mi) S from epicenter |
Sector 3 București, Romania. |
| 127 km (79 mi) S from epicenter |
Sector 6 București, Romania. |
| 127 km (79 mi) S from epicenter |
Bucharest București, Romania. |
| 131 km (81 mi) NE from epicenter |
Bârlad Vaslui, Romania. |
| 132 km (82 mi) S from epicenter |
Sector 5 București, Romania. |
| 133 km (83 mi) S from epicenter |
Sector 4 București, Romania. |
| 136 km (85 mi) SW from epicenter |
Piteşti Arges, Romania. |
| 137 km (85 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Brăila Brăila, Romania. |
| 140 km (87 mi) E from epicenter |
Galaţi Galați, Romania. |
| 141 km (88 mi) SE from epicenter |
Slobozia Ialomița, Romania. |
| 150 km (93 mi) N from epicenter |
Piatra Neamţ Neamț, Romania. |
| 155 km (96 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Cahul Cahul, Moldova. |
| 157 km (98 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Râmnicu Vâlcea Vâlcea, Romania. |
| 159 km (99 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Roman Neamț, Romania. |
| 164 km (102 mi) NE from epicenter |
Vaslui Vaslui, Romania. |
| 167 km (104 mi) S from epicenter |
Olteniţa Silistra, Romania. |
| 167 km (104 mi) W from epicenter |
Sibiu Sibiu, Romania. |
| 171 km (106 mi) NW from epicenter |
Târgu-Mureş Mureș, Romania. |
| 179 km (111 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Silistra Silistra, Bulgaria. |
| 188 km (117 mi) S from epicenter |
Giurgiu Giurgiu, Romania. |
| 191 km (119 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Alexandria Teleorman, Romania. |
| 193 km (120 mi) S from epicenter |
Ruse Ruse, Bulgaria. |
| 195 km (121 mi) SW from epicenter |
Slatina Olt, Romania. |
| 202 km (126 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Comrat Găgăuzia, Moldova. |
| 202 km (126 mi) E from epicenter |
Izmail Odessa, Ukraine. |
| 203 km (126 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Tulcea Tulcea, Romania. |
| 205 km (127 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Iaşi Iași, Romania. |
| 215 km (134 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Alba Iulia Alba, Romania. |
| 217 km (135 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Ungheni Ungheni, Moldova. |
| 221 km (137 mi) NW from epicenter |
Bistriţa Bistrița-Năsăud, Romania. |
| 227 km (141 mi) S from epicenter |
Razgrad Razgrad, Bulgaria. |
| 227 km (141 mi) NE from epicenter |
Hînceşti Hînceşti, Moldova. |
| 230 km (143 mi) N from epicenter |
Suceava Suceava, Romania. |
| 239 km (149 mi) SW from epicenter |
Craiova Dolj, Romania. |
| 240 km (149 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Târgu Jiu Gorj, Romania. |
| 242 km (150 mi) SE from epicenter |
Constanţa Constanța, Romania. |
| 245 km (152 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Cluj-Napoca Cluj, Romania. |
| 245 km (152 mi) N from epicenter |
Botoşani Botoșani, Romania. |
| 251 km (156 mi) NE from epicenter |
Strășeni Strășeni, Moldova. |
| 255 km (158 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Dobrich Dobrich, Bulgaria. |
| 255 km (158 mi) NE from epicenter |
Chisinau Chișinău Municipality, Moldova. |
| 259 km (161 mi) S from epicenter |
Targovishte Targovishte, Bulgaria. |
| 261 km (162 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Shumen Shumen, Bulgaria. |
| 263 km (163 mi) W from epicenter |
Hunedoara Hunedoara, Romania. |
| 263 km (163 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Borşa Maramureş, Romania. |
| 269 km (167 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Bilicenii Vechi Sîngerei, Moldova. |
| 270 km (168 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Căuşeni Căuşeni, Moldova. |
| 273 km (170 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Pleven Pleven, Bulgaria. |
| 275 km (171 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Bălţi Bălţi, Moldova. |
| 281 km (175 mi) NE from epicenter |
Orhei Orhei, Moldova. |
| 281 km (175 mi) S from epicenter |
Veliko Tŭrnovo Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria. |
| 284 km (176 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Bender Bender Municipality, Moldova. |
| 292 km (181 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Varna Varna, Bulgaria. |
| 295 km (183 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Tiraspol Stînga Nistrului, Moldova. |
| 297 km (185 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Lovech Lovech, Bulgaria. |
| 297 km (185 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Sevlievo Gabrovo, Bulgaria. |
| 299 km (186 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Drochia Drochia, Moldova. |
Shaking reported by 551 people in 5 countries
People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 551 people have reported shaking in 72 places in 5 countries (Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Austria, Moldova, Romania).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.
Places with most reports:
- Vamă Buzaului, Braşov, Romania: 53 people.
- Bucharest, Bukarest, Romania: 40 people.
- Lopătari, Buzău, Romania: 37 people.
- Zagon, Covasna, Romania: 30 people.
- Măneciu, Prahova, Romania: 25 people.
- Comandău, Covasna, Romania: 22 people.
- Chişinău, Chişinău, Moldova: 21 people.
- Tărlungeni, Braşov, Romania: 19 people.
- Gura Teghii, Buzău, Romania: 18 people.
- Valea Râmnicului, Buzău, Romania: 17 people.
Aftershocks detected
This main shock was prefaced by 1 smaller foreshock. Roughly 2 days before this earthquake, a foreshock measuring MAG-3.3 was detected nearby this earthquake.
Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks
| Classification | Magnitude | When | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreshock | M 3.3 |
2 days earlier Sep 14, 2024 18:06 (Bucharest Time) | 9 km (6 mi) SSE from Main Shock. |
| Main Shock This Earthquake |
M 5.2 |
Sep 16, 2024 17:40 (Bucharest Time) | - |
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.
It's always adviced to be cautious of the risk of a larger shock following any significant earthquake, however this risk is fairly small. There is a roughly 94 percent change that no larger main shock will follow in the days following this earthquake.
Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).Earthquakes like this are common in the region
Earthquakes of this strength occur quite regularly in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since February 14th, 2023, when a 5.6 magnitude earthquake hit 245 km (152 mi) further west-southwest. That was also the heaviest earthquake to hit the region in the past 10 years.
In total, 5 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.2 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 2 years.
Tsunami very unlikely
It is very unlikely that this eartquake will cause any tsunami's. The reported magnitude is lower than the MAG-6.5 strength required to cause any earthquakes. In addition, this earthquake was not very shallow and appears to have occurred under land. 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 5.2. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
Not this earthquake. This earthquake occurred at a depth of 133 km (83 mi). Earthquakes this deep in the earth are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
Sources
Last updated 15/11/24 08:38 (). 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.
- US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us7000ne92
- European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20240916_0000172
- Geonames.org: World Cities Database
- Google Maps: Static API
- Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database
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