M5.0 Earthquake 136 km SE of Bam, Iran — November 23, 2021
2021-11-23 21:46:26 UTC (2021-11-23) · approx. 1:46 AM UTC+4 local
On November 23, 2021 at 21:46 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 136 km SE of Bam, Iran, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 28.2034°, 59.3097°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 km — 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
59.3097°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Bam, Iran?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 136 km SE of Bam, Iran on November 23, 2021 at 21:46 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 28.2034°, 59.3097°, which is 136 km SE of Bam, Iran. View all earthquakes in Iran.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks 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 5.0 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000fwjt). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, November 23, 2021). M5.0 Earthquake 136 km SE of Bam, Iran — November 23, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000fwjt/