M4.2 Earthquake 24 km WNW of Herāt, Afghanistan — October 31, 2023
2023-10-31 22:26:08 UTC (2023-10-31) · approx. 2:26 AM UTC+4 local
On October 31, 2023 at 22:26 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 24 km WNW of Herāt, Afghanistan, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 34.4712°, 61.9771°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
61.9771°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Herāt, Afghanistan?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 24 km WNW of Herāt, Afghanistan on October 31, 2023 at 22:26 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000l8ns). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, October 31, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake 24 km WNW of Herāt, Afghanistan — October 31, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000l8ns/