M4.7 Earthquake 16 km SSE of Rustāq, Afghanistan — January 5, 2024
2024-01-05 15:47:51 UTC (2024-01-05) · approx. 8:47 PM UTC+5 local
On January 5, 2024 at 15:47 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 shallow crustal earthquake struck 16 km SSE of Rustāq, Afghanistan, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 36.9968°, 69.9173°. This earthquake was detected by 64 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 340, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.1 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
69.9173°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Rustāq, Afghanistan?
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 16 km SSE of Rustāq, Afghanistan on January 5, 2024 at 15:47 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 36.9968°, 69.9173°, which is 16 km SSE of Rustāq, Afghanistan. View all earthquakes in Afghanistan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.7 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 4.7 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000m21h). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, January 5, 2024). M4.7 Earthquake 16 km SSE of Rustāq, Afghanistan — January 5, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000m21h/