2023 Badakhshan earthquake
Earthquake in Afghanistan and Pakistan
On 21 March 2023, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Badakhshan Province , Afghanistan , with an intermediate depth of approximately 187 km (116 mi).[ 2] The epicenter of the earthquake was 40 km (25 mi) south-southeast of Jurm .
Tectonic setting
The Himalayas , partially formed by the collision of tectonic plates , are prone to devastating earthquakes. Afghanistan is situated near the southern extent of the Eurasian plate .[ 3] Most of these earthquakes are associated with reverse , thrust , or strike-slip faulting . Large earthquakes with magnitudes of up to 7.5 have occurred in the region with an average recurrence interval of 15 years. These earthquakes correspond to reverse faulting at a depth of 170 to 280 km (110 to 170 mi).[ 4] These earthquakes, rather than occurring at a plate boundary, are sourced from within the Indian plate as it dives beneath the Hindu Kush . As the tectonic slab of the Indian plate descends at a near-vertical angle into the mantle , it stretches and begins to "tear", eventually leading to a slab detachment .[ 5] This action results in stress accommodation along faults that produces earthquakes when ruptured . Smaller shallow focus earthquakes are also observed in the region, particularly associated with north–south trending zones of right lateral strike-slip, such as the Chaman Fault , with an increasing degree of shortening to the north, together accommodating the highly oblique convergence between the Indian and the Eurasian plates .[ 6]
Earthquake
The United States Geological Survey reported a magnitude of Mww 6.5,[ 2] while the Pakistan Meteorological Department said the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.5.[ 7] The earthquake was initially reported inaccurately as Mw 7.7.[ 8] Shaking was felt over an area 1,000 km (620 mi) wide by approximately 285 million people in Pakistan , India , Uzbekistan , Tajikistan , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Afghanistan , and Turkmenistan , according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre .[ 9]
Impact
Afghanistan
At least 10 people were killed,[ 10] 80 others were injured,[ 11] and more than 665 houses were destroyed in nine provinces of Afghanistan .[ 12] [ 13] Two people died, 25 others were injured and 22 houses collapsed in Laghman Province .[ 14] [ 15] [ 16] In Takhar Province , 20 buildings collapsed, one person died and five others were injured.[ 17] [ 18] In Panjshir Province , three buildings were seriously damaged, and three people were injured.[ 18] In Badakhshan Province , where the epicenter of the earthquake was located, one person was injured, 70 buildings were destroyed and 50 were damaged.[ 19] [ 20] In Kabul Province , one person died and one house was destroyed.[ 12] Five houses collapsed in Nangarhar Province .[ 16]
Pakistan
Tremors were felt in Islamabad , Rawalpindi , Lahore , Quetta , and Peshawar .[ 21] In Swat District , Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , a teenager was killed from a collapsing wall and a police station was damaged.[ 9] [ 22] Two people also died due to a wall collapse in the district,[ 23] while a falling wall killed another child.[ 24] In Swat District, there were power outages , severe damage and 250 injuries.[ 9] [ 23] [ 24] In Manshera , a woman died of a heart attack .[ 22] In Lower Dir District , one person died in a stampede related to the earthquake, a man and a woman were killed due to wall collapses and 43 people were injured from various causes.[ 22] [ 24] [ 25] The Karakoram Highway was closed due to blockages from landslides .[ 22] In Islamabad , one person died of a heart attack and a multi-storey apartment building was damaged.[ 22] [ 25] There was also a fatality in Bajaur District .[ 21] Buildings were damaged in Rawalpindi , including six which were deemed in risk of collapse and were evacuated. Two people were injured and another two went unconscious in the city, all due to panic.[ 26] [ 27] In Abbottabad , one person died from panic and fear.[ 28] In Mardan District , the wall of a police station collapsed, causing an injury.[ 28] Five people were injured in Swabi District .[ 29] Dozens of houses collapsed and 40 people were injured in Buner District .[ 29]
India
Tremors from the earthquake were felt across parts of North India , particularly in Jammu and Kashmir , Punjab , Himachal Pradesh , Haryana , Rajasthan , Uttarakhand and the National Capital Region .[ 30] [ 31] Disruptions of electricity and mobile services occurred in some parts of Jammu and Kashmir.[ 32] [ 33] A woman was injured after her house collapsed in Poonch , with reports of cracks in other houses and a wall collapse in the town and in the neighboring Nowshera .[ 34] [ 35] [ 36] Cracks were reported in some houses in the state capital Srinagar .[ 36] In Delhi , some buildings were reported to have cracked or tilted.[ 37]
Other countries
In Rudaki District , Tajikistan , a house was damaged, causing its occupants to evacuate.[ 38] Despite the relatively mild intensity, the earthquake damaged a high-rise building in Shymkent , Kazakhstan , in the form of cracks on walls and falling plaster.[ 39]
See also
References
Notes
Citations
^ "Death toll from Pakistan, Afghanistan quake rises to 21" . Associated Press . 23 March 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2023 .
^ a b National Earthquake Information Center (21 March 2023). "M 6.5 – 40 km SSE of Jurm, Afghanistan" . United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023 .
^ Ambraseyes, N. ; Bilham, R. (2003), "Earthquakes in Afghanistan", Seismological Research Letters , 74 (2): 107, Bibcode :2003SeiRL..74..107A , doi :10.1785/gssrl.74.2.107
^ Zoya Zarifi; Jens Havskov (2003). "Characteristics of dense nests of deep and intermediate-depth seismicity" (PDF) . Advances in Geophysics . 46 : 237– 278. Bibcode :2003AdGeo..46..237Z . doi :10.1016/S0065-2687(03)46004-4 . ISBN 9780120188468 . Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023 .
^ Sofia-Katerina Kufner; Najibullah Kakar; Maximiliano Bezada; Wasja Bloch; Sabrina Metzger; Xiaohui Yuan; James Mechie; Lothar Ratschbacher; Shokhruhk Murodkulov; Zhiguo Deng; Bernd Schurr (2021). "The Hindu Kush slab break-off as revealed by deep structure and crustal deformation" . Nature Communications . 12 (1685). Nature: 1685. Bibcode :2021NatCo..12.1685K . doi :10.1038/s41467-021-21760-w . PMC 7966371 . PMID 33727553 .
^ Ambraseys, N.N. ; Bilham, R. (2003). "Earthquakes in Afghanistan". Seismological Research Letters . 74 (2): 107– 123. Bibcode :2003SeiRL..74..107A . doi :10.1785/gssrl.74.2.107 . S2CID 130945532 .
^ Ahmed, Munir; Faiez, Rahim (21 March 2023). "Strong magnitude 6.5 quake rattles Afghanistan, Pakistan" . Islamabad. Associated Press . Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023 .
^ Ibn Hameed, Haseeb (21 March 2023). "Fact Check: 7.7-magnitude earthquake poster, damaged building shared on social media are fake" . Greater Kashmir . Kashmir. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023 .
^ a b c Greenfield, Charlotte; Yunus Yawar, Mohammad; Peshiman, Gibran; Ahmad, Jibran (21 March 2023). Maclean, William; Maler, Sandra (eds.). "Earthquake of magnitude 6.5 hits northern Afghanistan, killing at least 3" . Kabul, Islamabad and Peshawar. Reuters. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023 .
^ Guinto, Joel; Limaye, Yogita (22 March 2023). "Earthquake in Pakistan and Afghanistan kills at least 19 people" . BBC News. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023 .
^ "زلزله در افغانستان تا کنون ۴ کشته و ۸۰ زخمی در پی داشت" . Mehr News Agency (in Persian). 22 March 2023. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023 .
^ a b آزادی, رادیو (22 March 2023). "زلزله شب گذشته در افغانستان ۴ کشته و ۷۵ زخمی برجا گذاشت" . Radio Ozodi (in Dari). Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023 .
^ "اوچا: 665 خانه را در افغانستان بر اثر زلزله اخیر تخریب شده استگذاشت" . Memar Press (in Persian). Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023 .
^ "Earthquake in Afghanistan kills at least 13, nine of them in Pakistan" . Al Arabiya English . Pakistan. Reuters. 22 March 2023. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023 .
^ بېدار, عبیدالله (22 March 2023). "د تېرې شپې زلزله؛ لغمان کې دوه کسان مړه او ۲۵ نور ټپیان شوي" . Pajhwok Afghan News (in Pashto). Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023 .
^ a b "زلزله در لغمان و ننگرهار دهها خانه را بر سر ساکنانش تخریب کرد" . Pars Today . 22 March 2023. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023 .
^ "در پی زلزله شب گذشته٬ یکنفر در تخار جان باخت" . Bakhtar News Agency (in Dari). 22 March 2023. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023 .
^ a b "В Пакистане и Афганистане есть погибшие и разрушения в результате землетрясения" . Asia-Plus (in Russian). 22 March 2023. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023 .
^ "تخریب بیش از ۷۰ منزل مسکونی در پی زلزله در بدخشان و تخار" . Ava Press (in Persian). 22 March 2023. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023 .
^ "در اثر زلزلۀ شب گذشته در بدخشان یک تن مجروح و ۵۰ منزل مسکونی قسما تخریب گردیدهاست" . Pajhwok Afghan News (in Persian). 22 March 2023. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023 .
^ a b Latif, Aamir; Adil, Ahmad (22 March 2023). "At least 4 killed as powerful earthquake jolts Afghanistan, Pakistan, India" . Anadolu Agency . Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023 .
^ a b c d e "اسلام آباد سمیت ملک کے مختلف شہروں میں زلزلہ، 4 افراد جاں بحق، متعدد زخمی" (in Urdu). Geo TV . 21 March 2023. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023 .
^ a b "زلزله پاکستان ۲ کشته و ۱۲۰ مصدوم برجای گذاشت" (in Persian). Islamic Republic News Agency . 21 March 2023. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023 .
^ a b c "Latest: 13 dead after earthquake hits Afghanistan, Pakistan" . Al Jazeera . 22 March 2023. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023 .
^ a b "ملک کے مختلف علاقوں میں زلزلہ، 5 افراد جاں بحق، درجنوں زخمی" . jang.com.pk (in Urdu). 21 March 2023. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023 .
^ Asghar, Imran (23 March 2023). "Survey of precarious buildings ordered" . The Express Tribune . Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023 .
^ "Earthquake hits Pakistan and Afghanistan leaving at least nine dead" . The Guardian . Islamabad. Associated Press . 21 March 2023. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023 .
^ a b "ملک کے مختلف علاقوں میں خوفناک زلزلہ، ہلاکتوں کی تعداد 9 ہوگئی" . 24 News HD (in Urdu). 21 March 2023. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023 .
^ a b "ملک بھر میں زلزلے کے شدیدجھٹکے محسوس کئے گئے ، جس کی شدت ریکٹرسکیل پر 7.7ریکارڈ کی گئی ۔" . News One (in Urdu). 22 March 2023. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023 .
^ "Strong tremors jolt Delhi, parts of north India as 6.6-magnitude earthquake strikes Hindukush region in Afghanistan" . The Tribune . 22 March 2023. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023 .
^ Hussain, Syed Khalid (22 March 2023). "Earthquake in Kashmir: Doctors Deliver Baby Amid Strong Tremors at Anantnag Hospital – WATCH" . Zee News . Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023 .
^ "Earthquake: जम्मू कश्मीर में लगे भूकंप के झटके, बिजली व दूरसंचार सेवा प्रभावित, अनंतनाग में जारी रही सर्जरी" . Amarujala (in Hindi). 21 March 2023. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023 .
^ Dhar, Aniruddha; Kaul, Rhythma (21 March 2023). "Top scientist explains why Delhi, northwest India felt earthquake tremors for long time" . Hindustan Times . Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023 .
^ "Woman injured as mud house collapses in Poonch" . kashmiruzma.net . 22 March 2023. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023 .
^ "Earthquake in Jammu: भूकंप से पुंछ व नौशहरा में मकानों में आई दरारें, लोगों में डर का माहौल" . Dainik Jagran . 22 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023 .
^ a b "Delhi NCR Earthquake: तेज भूकंप के झटकों की चपेट में दिल्ली, इस्लामाबाद और काबुल, पाकिस्तान में 2 लोगों की मौत, 6 घायल" . ABP Live (in Hindi). 21 March 2023. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023 .
^ "जामिया नगर, कालकाजी और शाहदरा इलाकों से झुकी हुई इमारतों और इमारतों में दरारें से संबंधित कॉल प्राप्त हुए। इन इलाकों में" . cgtop36.com (in Hindi). 21 March 2023. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023 .
^ " "Божья кара" или стихийное бедствие? Землетрясение напугало жителей Таджикистана" . Radio Ozodi (in Russian). 22 March 2023. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023 .
^ "Трещины на стенах – жители Шымкента боятся возвращаться в многоэтажку после землетрясений" . Kazakhstan Today (in Russian). 29 March 2023. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023 .
January February March April May August September October November December
† indicates earthquake resulting in at least 30 deaths
‡ indicates the deadliest earthquake of the year
Dates for all earthquakes are in UTC
Historical 20th century 21st century Related topics
Pre-20th century 20th century 21st century