M4.6 Earthquake 33 km WNW of Khand?d, Afghanistan — May 31, 2022
2022-05-31 04:40:26 UTC (2022-05-31) · approx. 9:40 AM UTC+5 local
On May 31, 2022 at 04:40 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 intermediate depth earthquake struck 33 km WNW of Khand?d, Afghanistan, at a depth of 154.1 km and coordinates 37.0407°, 71.9542°. This earthquake was detected by 22 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 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
71.9542°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Khand?d, Afghanistan?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 33 km WNW of Khand?d, Afghanistan on May 31, 2022 at 04:40 UTC had a depth of 154.1 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 37.0407°, 71.9542°, which is 33 km WNW of Khand?d, Afghanistan. View all earthquakes in Afghanistan.
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 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 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000hdqa). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, May 31, 2022). M4.6 Earthquake 33 km WNW of Khand?d, Afghanistan — May 31, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000hdqa/