A shallow and significant Magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck under land 74 kilometer from Khorramabad in Iran in the evening of Sunday February 16th, 2025. Another nearby country is Iraq.
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Earthquake Summary
The earthquake struck on land in Iran, 74 kilometer (46 mi) south of Khorramabad in Lorestan 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: | Feb 16, 2025 22:25 (Tehran Time) - Feb 16, 2025 18:55 Universal Time. |
|---|---|
| Location: | 74 km south of Khorramabad, Lorestan Province, Iran. Coordinates 32°49'25"N 48°24'0"E. |
| Map: |  Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps. |
| Magnitude: | MAG 5.1 Detected by 12 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.089 . |
| Depth: | 10 km (6 mi) A very 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 and Iraq are both within 300km distance of its epicenter.
The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Shūsh in Khuzestan, Iran. Shūsh is located 72 kilometer (45 mi) north of the epicenter.
Major cities near this earthquake: Basrah is located 264 km to the south-southwest. Al Başrah al Qadīmah is located 264 km to the south-southwest. Ahvaz is located 169 km to the south.
A complete list of nearby places is included below.
Overview of nearby places
| Distance | Place |
|---|---|
| 72 km (45 mi) S from epicenter |
Shūsh Khuzestan, Iran. |
| 74 km (46 mi) N from epicenter |
Khorramabad Lorestan Province, Iran. |
| 93 km (58 mi) W from epicenter |
Ābdānān Ilam Province, Iran. |
| 96 km (60 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Shūshtar Khuzestan, Iran. |
| 100 km (62 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Aznā Lorestan Province, Iran. |
| 102 km (63 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Darreh Shahr Ilam Province, Iran. |
| 107 km (66 mi) W from epicenter |
Dehlorān Ilam Province, Iran. |
| 108 km (67 mi) NW from epicenter |
Kūhdasht Lorestan Province, Iran. |
| 116 km (72 mi) N from epicenter |
Aleshtar Lorestan Province, Iran. |
| 124 km (77 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Borūjerd Lorestan Province, Iran. |
| 130 km (81 mi) SE from epicenter |
Masjed Soleymān Khuzestan, Iran. |
| 137 km (85 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Alīgūdarz Lorestan Province, Iran. |
| 142 km (88 mi) S from epicenter |
Sūsangerd Khuzestan, Iran. |
| 145 km (90 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Nūrābād Lorestan Province, Iran. |
| 152 km (94 mi) N from epicenter |
Nahāvand Hamadān, Iran. |
| 161 km (100 mi) SW from epicenter |
Al ‘Amārah Maysan, Iraq. |
| 165 km (103 mi) WSW from epicenter |
‘Alī al Gharbī Maysan, Iraq. |
| 169 km (105 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Malāyer Hamadān, Iran. |
| 169 km (105 mi) S from epicenter |
Ahvaz Khuzestan, Iran. |
| 178 km (111 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Harsīn Kermānshāh, Iran. |
| 181 km (112 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Khomeyn Markazi, Iran. |
| 184 km (114 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Khvānsār Isfahan, Iran. |
| 186 km (116 mi) NE from epicenter |
Arāk Markazi, Iran. |
| 189 km (117 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Golpāyegān Isfahan, Iran. |
| 191 km (119 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Kangāvar Kermānshāh, Iran. |
| 205 km (127 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Īlām Ilam Province, Iran. |
| 206 km (128 mi) SE from epicenter |
Rāmhormoz Khuzestan, Iran. |
| 207 km (129 mi) NW from epicenter |
Kermanshah Kermānshāh, Iran. |
| 214 km (133 mi) NW from epicenter |
Kahrīz Kermānshāh, Iran. |
| 217 km (135 mi) N from epicenter |
Pasragad Branch Hamadān, Iran. |
| 219 km (136 mi) N from epicenter |
Asadābād Hamadān, Iran. |
| 219 km (136 mi) N from epicenter |
Āzādshahr Hamadān, Iran. |
| 220 km (137 mi) N from epicenter |
Hamadān Hamadān, Iran. |
| 230 km (143 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Sonqor Kermānshāh, Iran. |
| 232 km (144 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Al Ḩayy Wāsiţ, Iraq. |
| 237 km (147 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Shahr-e Kord Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Iran. |
| 244 km (152 mi) W from epicenter |
Al Kūt Wāsiţ, Iraq. |
| 256 km (159 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Al Hārithah Basra, Iraq. |
| 258 km (160 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Kāmyārān Kordestān, Iran. |
| 260 km (162 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Omīdīyeh Khuzestan, Iran. |
| 262 km (163 mi) SW from epicenter |
Ash Shaţrah Dhi Qar, Iraq. |
| 264 km (164 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Al Başrah al Qadīmah Basra, Iraq. |
| 264 km (164 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Basrah Basra, Iraq. |
| 266 km (165 mi) S from epicenter |
Khorramshahr Khuzestan, Iran. |
| 266 km (165 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Qorveh Kordestān, Iran. |
| 276 km (171 mi) S from epicenter |
Abadan Khuzestan, Iran. |
| 278 km (173 mi) E from epicenter |
Najafābād Isfahan, Iran. |
| 278 km (173 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Az Zubayr Basra, Iraq. |
| 282 km (175 mi) SW from epicenter |
Nasiriyah Dhi Qar, Iraq. |
| 284 km (176 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Mandalī Diyālá, Iraq. |
| 287 km (178 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Borūjen Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Iran. |
| 294 km (183 mi) E from epicenter |
Khomeynī Shahr Isfahan, Iran. |
Shaking reported by 5 people in 2 countries
People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 5 people have reported shaking in 4 places in 2 countries (Iran, 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: 2 people.
- Araq, Markazī, Iran: 1 person.
- Sarband, Markazī, Iran: 1 person.
- Jabriya, Hawallī, Kuwait: 1 person.
Aftershocks detected
Before this earthquake struck, 1 smaller foreshock occurred. Roughly 7 mins before this earthquake, a foreshock measuring MAG-4.4 was detected nearby this earthquake.
Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks
| Classification | Magnitude | When | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreshock | M 4.4 |
7 mins earlier Feb 16, 2025 22:18 (Tehran Time) | 36 km (23 mi) SSW from Main Shock. |
| Main Shock This Earthquake |
M 5.1 |
Feb 16, 2025 22:25 (Tehran 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.
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 December 5th, 2024, when a 5.4 magnitude earthquake hit 166 km (103 mi) further south-east. An even stronger magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck on November 25th, 2018.
In total, 17 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 7 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 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 21/02/25 18:58 (). 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 us7000pe4x
- European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20250216_0000205
- Geonames.org: World Cities Database
- Google Maps: Static API
- Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database
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