M5.6 Earthquake 63 km SSE of Sovetabad, Azerbaijan — April 8, 2026
2026-04-08 09:05:38 UTC (2026-04-08) · approx. 12:05 PM UTC+3 local
Maximum shaking intensity MMI 5.2 (strong).
On April 8, 2026 at 09:05 UTC, a magnitude 5.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 63 km SSE of Sovetabad, Azerbaijan, at a depth of 21.0 km and coordinates 38.8483°, 49.6061°. The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 202 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 482, placing it among routine seismic activity. The nearest populated place is Hasanabad (population 6,915).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 4 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 4.4 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Nearest Populated Places
ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity
Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS
Population exposure (USGS PAGER)
Estimated population that experienced each level of shaking. Based on the USGS PAGER rapid impact assessment, which combines ShakeMap output with global population grids.
| Shaking intensity (MMI) | Description | Population exposed |
|---|---|---|
| MMI 3 | weak | 7,480,994 |
| MMI 4 | light | 2,868,300 |
| MMI 5 | moderate | 4,320 |
Earthquake Details
49.6061°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.6 earthquake near Sovetabad, Azerbaijan?
The magnitude 5.6 earthquake that struck 63 km SSE of Sovetabad, Azerbaijan on April 8, 2026 at 09:05 UTC had a depth of 21.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 38.8483°, 49.6061°, which is 63 km SSE of Sovetabad, Azerbaijan. The nearest populated place is Hasanabad (population 6,915).
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.6 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
What should I do after an earthquake?
If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000sbau). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, April 8, 2026). M5.6 Earthquake 63 km SSE of Sovetabad, Azerbaijan — April 8, 2026. Retrieved May 18, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000sbau/