Shallow M5.4 Earthquake hit near Masjed Soleymān in Iran on Thursday Morning.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on December 5th, 2024. Last updated December 30th, 2024.

In the morning of Thursday December 5th, 2024, a shallow and significant Magnitude 5.4 earthquake hit under land 29 kilometer from Masjed Soleymān in Iran. Around 14 million people have been exposed to shaking. Iraq is also near its epicenter.

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Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Iran, 29 kilometer (18 mi) south-east of Masjed Soleymān in Khuzestan. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 17 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Dec 5, 2024 07:32 (Tehran Time) - Dec 5, 2024 04:02 Universal Time.
Location:	29 km SE of Masjed Soleymān, Khuzestan, Iran. Coordinates 31°45'50"N 49°31'46"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.4 Detected by 12 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.089 .
Depth:	17 km (11 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

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

Forty-eight people injured, 100 homes destroyed and 7,000 others damaged; landslides and power outages reported in Golgir.

Based on scientific estimates by the 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

An estimated 14 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.

Strong shaking and probably light damage may have been experienced by an estimated 2,990 people. At VI, it is the highest MMI level this earthquake has caused. The majority of people (roughly 10 million) live in an area exposed to level III, where weak shaking and probably no damage is expected.

People in 3 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Iran , around 12 million people, with impact levels up to VI (strong shaking, probably light damage). In Iraq , around 2 million people. In Kuwait, shaking was experienced too.

Nearby towns and cities

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

Located 29 kilometer (18 mi) south-east of the epicenter of this earthquake, Masjed Soleymān (Khuzestan, Iran) is the nearest significant population center. Masjed Soleymān experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly V. That level implies moderate shaking and very light damage.

Major cities near this earthquake: Basrah is located 217 km to the southwest and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Al Başrah al Qadīmah is located 215 km to the southwest and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Ahvaz is located 94 km to the west-southwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely 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

Earthquake Intensity Map

The graph below overlays a map of the region around the epicenter with earthquake intensity data provided by the US Geographic Survey. The highest intensity level detected for this earthquake is VI.

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 23 people in 3 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 23 people have reported shaking in 12 places in 3 countries (Iran, Iraq, Kuwait).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

• Ahwaz, Khūzestān, Iran: 8 people.
• Masjed Soleyman, Khūzestān, Iran: 4 people.
• Abū H̨ulayfah, al-Ah̨madī, Kuwait: 2 people.
• Bandar-e Mah Shahr, Khūzestān, Iran: 1 person.
• Desful, Khūzestān, Iran: 1 person.
• Shushter, Khūzestān, Iran: 1 person.
• Khurramabad, Lorestān, Iran: 1 person.
• Baghdad, Bagdad, Iraq: 1 person.
• Salmiya, Hawallī, Kuwait: 1 person.
• Subhan, Mubarāk al-Kabīr, Kuwait: 1 person.

2 Aftershocks detected

Since this main shock, 2 smaller aftershocks were detected. Just 2 hrs after this main shock, an earthquake measuring MAG-5 was detected 14 km (8 mi) north-east of this earthquake.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

More earthquakes coming?

Aftershocks are usually at least 1 order of magnitude less strong than main shocks. The more time passes, the smaller the chance and likely strength of any potential aftershocks.

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 3 years

Earthquakes of this strength occur quite regularly in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since October 4th, 2021, when a 5.5 magnitude earthquake hit 67 km (42 mi) further north-northeast. An even stronger magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck on April 18th, 2021.

In total, 7 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.4 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 year.

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 30/12/24 00:48 (). 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.

1. US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us7000nw1c
2. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20241205_0000031
3. Geonames.org: World Cities Database
4. Google Maps: Static API
5. Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database

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