M4.8 Earthquake 78 km W of Murghob, Tajikistan — August 31, 2023
2023-08-31 18:45:19 UTC (2023-08-31) · approx. 11:45 PM UTC+5 local
On August 31, 2023 at 18:45 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 78 km W of Murghob, Tajikistan, at a depth of 50.2 km and coordinates 38.0851°, 73.0729°. This earthquake was detected by 80 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.
Earthquake Details
73.0729°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Murghob, Tajikistan?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 78 km W of Murghob, Tajikistan on August 31, 2023 at 18:45 UTC had a depth of 50.2 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 38.0851°, 73.0729°, which is 78 km W of Murghob, Tajikistan.
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.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000ksgl). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, August 31, 2023). M4.8 Earthquake 78 km W of Murghob, Tajikistan — August 31, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ksgl/