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Moderate mag. 5.8 earthquake - Tajikistan-Xinjiang Border Region on Friday, 12 February 2021 at 17:01 (GMT) - information

Moderate mag. 5.8 earthquake - 29 km southwest of Murghab, Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan, on Friday, Feb 12, 2021 at 10:01 pm (GMT +5)

Moderate mag. 5.8 earthquake - 29 km southwest of Murghab, Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan, on Friday, Feb 12, 2021 at 10:01 pm (GMT +5) Moderate mag. 5.8 earthquake - 29 km southwest of Murghab, Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan, on Friday, Feb 12, 2021 at 10:01 pm (GMT +5)

Moderate magnitude 5.8 earthquake at 100 km depth

12 Feb 17:08 UTC: First to report: GFZ after 7 minutes.
12 Feb 17:09: Magnitude recalculated from 6.2 to 6.0. Hypocenter depth recalculated from 91.0 to 86.0 km (from 57 to 53 mi). Epicenter location corrected by 2.8 km (1.8 mi) towards SE.
12 Feb 17:45: Magnitude recalculated from 6.0 to 5.8.
12 Feb 22:32: Hypocenter depth recalculated from 86.0 to 100.0 km (from 53 to 62 mi).
Update Fri, 12 Feb 2021, 21:36

Scary quake may have been felt by millions in Afghanistan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan and Tajikistan

User reports for this quake on a map
User reports for this quake on a map
Millions of people in the northern parts of India and Pakistan were awoken by a very noticeable earthquake on Friday evening (February 12, 2021).
The earthquakes epicenter was actually in nearby Tajikistan, yet this relatively deep earthquake at an intermediate 86 km below the surface caused it to be felt as far as New Delhi in India, over 1100 km away, and even further than Bhopal in Central India, some 1600 km away.
Both the Indian and Pakistani sides of Kashmir got shaken significantly, with a huge number of comments coming in to VolcanoDiscovery describing the shaking and panic of people fleeing outdoors. People from Indian cities such as Amritsar, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Gujrat, Gurdaspur, Jaipur, Jammu, Noida, Sopore and Srinagar all reported shaking. Near the city of Mirpur 550 km away from the epicenter, one report wrote "The ground shook side to side then up and down. I ran downstairs with my heart pumping. I took my mother and grandma outside. Very scary. May God have mercy."

Pakistan also felt major shaking with reports coming in from Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Rawalpindi. A report from Lahore wrote "The bed shook violently for at least 10 seconds. At first, I just freaked out and could not figure out the reason for the shaking but became sure that it was an earthquake after my mother came running out of her room, awakened from sleep." A family from Faisalabad even sent in their photo waiting outdoors in the open for possible aftershocks.

Many locations reported objects falling from shelves, beds shaking for as much as 15 seconds, lamps and fans swaying, creaking walls, agitated animals, birds flying from trees or chirping, sounds like thunder, and even people shouting "earthquake". Many thousands ran outdoors, and this could have been in the hundreds of thousands, as the quake was also felt in countries that have poor connectivity to report, with a handful of reports of shaking from Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan. Weak shaking was also felt in Dushanbe and Khujand in Tajikistan, and moderate shaking was felt in Osh, Kyrgyzstan's second largest city 280 km from the epicenter. While we received no reports from China, the proximity of Xinjiang, the Uygur autonomous region in China relatively close to the epicenter, means that it was almost certainly felt there as well. No immediate aftershocks were reported by seismological agencies in few hours after the quake.
Update Fri, 12 Feb 2021, 17:32
USGS now posts the quake as magnitude 5.9, a bit weaker than the originally reported magnitude 6. So far, we have no clear picture whether there is significant damage and there are no reports yet.
The area of the epicenter is largely unpopulated mountain terrain, part of the mighty Pamir mountains.
It is located in the Badakhshan National Park, part of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) in southeastern Tajikistan.
Read all
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Earthquake details

Date & timeFeb 12, 2021 17:01:35 UTC
Local time at epicenterFriday, Feb 12, 2021 at 10:01 pm (GMT +5)
StatusConfirmed
Magnitude5.8
Depth100.0 km
Epicenter latitude / longitude38.06°N / 73.67°E (Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan)
Antipode38.06°S / 106.33°W
Shaking intensityModerate shaking
Felt5403 reports
Primary data sourceGFZ (German Research Centre for Geosciences)
Nearby towns and cities29 km (18 mi) WSW of Murghab (pop: 10,800) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
235 km (146 mi) NE of Ishqoshim (Ishkoshim) (pop: 26,000) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
255 km (159 mi) SW of Kashgar (Xinjiang, China) (pop: 274,700) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
285 km (177 mi) SSE of Osh (Kyrgyzstan) (pop: 200,000) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
341 km (212 mi) E of Kŭlob (Khatlon) (pop: 78,800) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
374 km (232 mi) SE of Konibodom (Sughd) (pop: 50,400) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
428 km (266 mi) SE of Khujand (Согдийская область) (pop: 144,900) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
430 km (267 mi) E of Duschanbe (Dushanbe) (pop: 679,400) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
522 km (324 mi) SE of Tashkent (Uzbekistan) (pop: 1,978,000) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
563 km (350 mi) NE of Kabul (Afghanistan) (pop: 3,043,500) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
Weather at epicenter at time of quakeClear Sky -20.4°C (-5 F), humidity: 61%, wind: 2 m/s (3 kts) from SW
Estimated seismic energy released3.2 x 1013 joules (8.78 gigawatt hours, equivalent to 7558 tons of TNT or 0.5 atomic bombs!) | about seismic energy
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Data for the same earthquake reported by different agencies

Info: The more agencies report about the same quake and post similar data, the more confidence you can have in the data. It takes normally up to a few hours until earthquake parameters are calculated with near-optimum precision.
Mag.DepthLocationSource
5.8100 kmTajikistan-Xinjiang Border RegionGFZ
5.992 kmTAJIKISTANEMSC
5.999 km37 Km W of Murghob, TajikistanUSGS
6.2106 kmTajikistan-Xinjiang Border RegionBMKG
6.1100 km塔吉克斯坦, TajikistanCEIC
5.994 kmTajikistan-Xinjiang Border RegionGeoAu
6.515 kmHindu Kush And Pamir Area, TajikistanKNDC
6.30 kmKyrgizstan Region, TajikistanKRNET

User reports for this quake (5532)

User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale.
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Punjab,india / Very strong shaking (MMI VII) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Im from punjab india | 13 users found this interesting.  
  • I was doing chat with my friend and I felt my bed is shaking and at the same time my friend wrote my bed is shivering...... So I realized it.....it was for 5-10 seconds
  • Our bed started vibrating nd our room is made with wood nd it felt a very strong shaking
Islamabad (505.3 km S of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 20-30 s : It came in two waves. the second one stronger than the first. | 11 users found this interesting.  
Ludhiana, Punjab / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s : I was sleeping and felt shaking and then the noise from windows helped me to realize that it’s an earthquake | 7 users found this interesting.  
Ludhiana punjab india / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : It was light shake first for 2 to 5 sec and after a minute it was shake again and I could see ceiling fan moving which lasted for about 5 sec. | 5 users found this interesting.  
  • Yes I m sleep then bed is
  • Yes I m sleep then bed is
delhi (1106.5 km SSE of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / simple rolling (tilting sideways along one direction) : there were 2-3 large swings in the beginning and after that there were light swings in the building for approx 2 minutes. | 4 users found this interesting.  
Lahore, Pakistan / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : I was sitting on my bed. The bed shook violently for at least 10 seconds. At first, I just freaked out and could not figure out the reason for the shaking but became sure that it was an earthquake after my mother came running out of her room, a | 4 users found this interesting.  
Mirpur Azad Kashmir / Very strong shaking (MMI VII) / 10-15 s : That was some serious shit whole setup fell down with 2 monitors and people run to open ground in mirpur azad kashmir felth like minimum 5 | 4 users found this interesting.  
S A S Nagar, Mohali (863.5 km SSE of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 5-10 s : Shaking of bed and some noise with fans swinging slightly and windows rattling. | 4 users found this interesting.  
Srinagar, Kashmir, India / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s | 3 users found this interesting.
Patiala / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 20-30 s : Bed was suddenly shaking even curtains started to move. I felt to shocks one at low and second at higher intensity | 3 users found this interesting.  
  • Sangrur very amazing
Lahore (728.4 km S of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating : Felt a sort o | 2 users found this interesting.  
near Gilgit (253.7 km SSE of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) : I was having dinner and suddenly I felt slight earthquake. Thank GOD I'm safe and everything is safe around me. | 2 users found this interesting.  
Rawalpindi, Punjab (495.5 km S of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 20-30 s : All person in home felt it very well, my sleeping persons got awaken by the shaking. Duration was 30 to 40 seconds for 5sec ( in middle) shaking rate was higher. | 2 users found this interesting.  
Amritsar kotkhalsa / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s : It's really dangerous feel | 2 users found this interesting.  
IMG2021013... .jpg (public domain)
  • Hello from VolcanoDiscovery. Thanks for sending your photo! Glad to see smiley faces in this difficult time. Please stay safe!
JALANDHAR / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 15-20 s : One strong vertical shake felt first of all then after one or two Minutes again felt a horizontal shake with fans moving slightly | 2 users found this interesting.  
Rawalpindi Pakistan / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : It was like my bed was moving from west to eastward and earth also moved like the car over the speedbreaker | 2 users found this interesting.  
Lalru, SAS Nagar (Mohali),Punjab (890.5 km SSE of epicenter) [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / simple rolling (tilting sideways along one direction) / 20-30 s : Whe | One user found this interesting.  
New Delhi (1107.3 km SSE of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : I was sitting on sofa watching television when th | One user found this interesting.  
Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir (455.2 km SSE of epicenter) [Map] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 20-30 s : The quake was felt for several seconds and people rushed outside their houses. Due to horrific past experiences people remained outside for on roads for 10 to 15 minutes. Somes cracks have been left on few buildings | One user found this interesting.  
Chandigarh (863.7 km SSE of epicenter) [Map] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / rattling, vibrating : My bed started to shake and curtains started to move. My golden Arowana started to jump and I quickly ran out side my home to the park. | One user found this interesting.  
Islamabad (493.5 km S of epicenter) [Map] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : I was in the office for my job when I was ideally shaking my leg and the floor shook but it went past my subconscious mind, it was a 2 second shock and stopped. after an interval of 3-5 seconds, the second wave came in which again lasted for 2 | One user found this interesting.  
Rajaori, Jammu and Kashmir (529 km S of epicenter) [Map] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s : It was lying on my bed that time .I feel my bed mov | One user found this interesting.  
  • leave your comment here
Dheera, Palampur (718.9 km SSE of epicenter) [Map] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : 2 strong shocks, duration aprox 3-4 seconds each after the gap of 5 seconds. Strongly felt by all my family members and all my neighbours get out from their houses immediately. | One user found this interesting.  
Punjab, gurdaspur (859.6 km S of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) : I was in my blanket . L felt someone shaking my blenket then I felt my bed was also shaking.I immidetly get up and saw here there, that someone who is shaking my blanket then again I | One user found this interesting.  
AMRITSAR (816.9 km S of epicenter) [Map] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / both vertical and horizontal swinging : It continues for 3 to 5minutes. And came in 2 waves . First wave was of very strong shaking nearly for 15sec. And 2nd wave was weak but can be easily feeled for about 3 minutes. | One user found this interesting.  
bathinda Punjab (901.4 km S of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s : First i was scared as windows were vibrating but after i confirmed from friends they felt the same so it was earthquake probably. | One user found this interesting.  
near Mardan, Mardān District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (438.5 km SSW of epicenter) [Map] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) : First it was Slow shocks but then The shocks were very strong felt by all Humans and Animals .and Alla came out of Rooms and Houses . | One user found this interesting.  
Gurdaspur (690.9 km SSE of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : I felt 2 shakings. First was less intense and lasted 5 to 10 seconds. I felt my bed moving. 2nd was stronger in intensity and my bed was felt shaking stronger and I got afraid and fearful. It also lasted 5 to 10 seconds. | One user found this interesting.  
near Phillaur, Jalandhar district, Punjab (812.6 km SSE of epicenter) [Map] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / single vertical bump / very short : First was the maximum amplitude wave, very short and very severe, all the furniture, windows vibrated and made noise for a fraction of a second and then many smaller ripples continued for 2-3 minutes..appeared to be more than 7 on Richter scale. | One user found this interesting.  
Phagwara (783.8 km SSE of epicenter) [Map] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : I felt 3 low vibes with the interval of 10-15sec then 4 vibe was actually like a big ripple but thank god everything is fine | One user found this interesting.  
Noida, India (1110.4 km SSE of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Was sitting on chair when chair started going back and forth two times. A person sleeping in the house also awoke | One user found this interesting.  
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Aftershocks

[More info]

Recorded aftershocks, latest first (5 quakes)

Date and timeMag
Depth
LocationDetails
Mar 16, 2021 12:48
2 years ago
2.8

10 km
60 km SW of Murghab, Gorno-Badakhshan, TajikistanMore
Mar 7, 2021 00:50
2 years ago
2.8

10 km
22 km W of Murghab, Gorno-Badakhshan, TajikistanMore
Mar 4, 2021 03:49
2 years ago
3.2

10 km
52 km SW of Murghab, Gorno-Badakhshan, TajikistanMore
Feb 26, 2021 05:50
2 years ago
2.9

10 km
48 km SW of Murghab, Gorno-Badakhshan, TajikistanMore
Feb 26, 2021 02:01
2 years ago
3.8

10 km
22 km W of Murghab, Gorno-Badakhshan, TajikistanMore

Earlier earthquakes in the same area

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