M4.6 Earthquake 85 km WNW of Kīsh, Iran — March 14, 2024
2024-03-14 22:03:15 UTC (2024-03-14) · approx. 2:03 AM UTC+4 local
On March 14, 2024 at 22:03 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 85 km WNW of Kīsh, Iran, at a depth of 15.5 km and coordinates 26.8319°, 53.2178°. This earthquake was detected by 25 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 326, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Iran, a region characterized by the Zagros fold-and-thrust belt, where the Arabian Plate collides with Eurasia at 20-25 mm per year. The nearest mapped fault system is the Zagros Fault. View all earthquakes in Iran.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
53.2178°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Kīsh, Iran?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 85 km WNW of Kīsh, Iran on March 14, 2024 at 22:03 UTC had a depth of 15.5 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 26.8319°, 53.2178°, which is 85 km WNW of Kīsh, Iran. View all earthquakes in Iran.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Iran had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Iran was the M7.8 Tabas earthquake of September 16, 1978. Today's magnitude 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000mjzl). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, March 14, 2024). M4.6 Earthquake 85 km WNW of Kīsh, Iran — March 14, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000mjzl/