M4.9 Earthquake 33 km SSE of Jurm, Afghanistan — July 18, 2022
2022-07-18 14:38:21 UTC (2022-07-18) · approx. 7:38 PM UTC+5 local
Aftershock of the M5.2 mainshock.
On July 18, 2022 at 14:38 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 intermediate depth earthquake struck 33 km SSE of Jurm, Afghanistan, at a depth of 208.7 km and coordinates 36.5911°, 70.9833°. This earthquake was detected by 94 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred 22 days ago 52 km SSW of Jurm, Afghanistan. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
The epicenter is located in Afghanistan, a region characterized by the Hindu Kush deep seismic zone, where remnant subducted lithosphere produces intermediate-depth earthquakes at 150-300 km. View all earthquakes in Afghanistan.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
70.9833°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Jurm, Afghanistan?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 33 km SSE of Jurm, Afghanistan on July 18, 2022 at 14:38 UTC had a depth of 208.7 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 36.5911°, 70.9833°, which is 33 km SSE of Jurm, Afghanistan. View all earthquakes in Afghanistan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.2 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.9 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred earlier 52 km SSW of Jurm, Afghanistan. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Has Afghanistan had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Afghanistan was the M7.5 Hindu Kush earthquake of October 26, 2015. Today's magnitude 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000i3f4). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, July 18, 2022). M4.9 Earthquake 33 km SSE of Jurm, Afghanistan — July 18, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000i3f4/