M4.6 Earthquake 15 km N of Güroymak, Turkey — September 16, 2020
2020-09-16 14:48:21 UTC (2020-09-16) · approx. 5:48 PM UTC+3 local
On September 16, 2020 at 14:48 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 15 km N of Güroymak, Turkey, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 38.7152°, 42.0276°.
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 Turkey, a region characterized by the North Anatolian Fault, a 1,500 km transform boundary driven by the westward extrusion of the Anatolian microplate. The nearest mapped fault system is the North Anatolian Fault. View all earthquakes in Turkey.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
42.0276°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Güroymak, Turkey?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 15 km N of Güroymak, Turkey on September 16, 2020 at 14:48 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 38.7152°, 42.0276°, which is 15 km N of Güroymak, Turkey. View all earthquakes in Turkey.
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 Turkey had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Turkey was the M7.8 Kahramanmaraş earthquake of February 6, 2023. Today's magnitude 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000bnxn). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, September 16, 2020). M4.6 Earthquake 15 km N of Güroymak, Turkey — September 16, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000bnxn/