M4.9 Earthquake 49 km E of Qala i Naw, Afghanistan — January 17, 2022
2022-01-17 09:35:57 UTC (2022-01-17) · approx. 1:35 PM UTC+4 local
On January 17, 2022 at 09:35 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 49 km E of Qala i Naw, Afghanistan, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 34.9362°, 63.6666°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 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
63.6666°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Qala i Naw, Afghanistan?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 49 km E of Qala i Naw, Afghanistan on January 17, 2022 at 09:35 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 34.9362°, 63.6666°, which is 49 km E of Qala i Naw, Afghanistan. View all earthquakes in Afghanistan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 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 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000gcle). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, January 17, 2022). M4.9 Earthquake 49 km E of Qala i Naw, Afghanistan — January 17, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000gcle/