M4.9 Earthquake 32 km SW of Ashkāsham, Afghanistan — November 15, 2023
2023-11-15 00:05:03 UTC (2023-11-15) · approx. 5:05 AM UTC+5 local
On November 15, 2023 at 00:05 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 intermediate depth earthquake struck 32 km SW of Ashkāsham, Afghanistan, at a depth of 119.7 km and coordinates 36.4517°, 71.3120°. This earthquake was detected by 137 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.
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
71.3120°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Ashkāsham, Afghanistan?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 32 km SW of Ashkāsham, Afghanistan on November 15, 2023 at 00:05 UTC had a depth of 119.7 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 36.4517°, 71.3120°, which is 32 km SW of Ashkāsham, 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.
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: us6000lngc). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, November 15, 2023). M4.9 Earthquake 32 km SW of Ashkāsham, Afghanistan — November 15, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000lngc/