M4.8 Earthquake 36 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan — January 1, 2023
2023-01-01 06:39:45 UTC (2023-01-01) · approx. 11:39 AM UTC+5 local
Aftershock of the M5.2 mainshock.
On January 1, 2023 at 06:39 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 intermediate depth earthquake struck 36 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan, at a depth of 187.3 km and coordinates 36.5374°, 70.9078°. This earthquake was detected by 108 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 354, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred 16 days ago 52 km SSW of Jurm, Afghanistan. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
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
70.9078°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Jurm, Afghanistan?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 36 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan on January 1, 2023 at 06:39 UTC had a depth of 187.3 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 36.5374°, 70.9078°, which is 36 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan. View all earthquakes in Afghanistan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.2 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.8 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred earlier 52 km SSW of Jurm, Afghanistan. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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 4.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000j1cr). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, January 1, 2023). M4.8 Earthquake 36 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan — January 1, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000j1cr/