M4.2 Earthquake 19 km NE of Herāt, Afghanistan — November 20, 2023
2023-11-20 18:32:56 UTC (2023-11-20) · approx. 10:32 PM UTC+4 local
On November 20, 2023 at 18:32 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 19 km NE of Herāt, Afghanistan, at a depth of 9.2 km and coordinates 34.4573°, 62.3646°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
62.3646°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Herāt, Afghanistan?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 19 km NE of Herāt, Afghanistan on November 20, 2023 at 18:32 UTC had a depth of 9.2 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000lpn1). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, November 20, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake 19 km NE of Herāt, Afghanistan — November 20, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000lpn1/