M 6.5 in Afghanistan on 21 Mar 2023 16:47 UTC

Hazard models

Rapid Impact
Shakemap
Tsunami

Event summary

This earthquake is expected to have a low humanitarian impact based on the magnitude and the affected population and their vulnerability.

Earthquake Magnitude: 6.5M
Depth: 187.589 Km
Lat/Lon: 36.5227 , 70.9787
Event Date: 21 Mar 2023 16:47 UTC
21 Mar 2023 21:17 Local
Exposed Population: 1.2 million in MMI IV
Source: NEIC us7000jln7
Inserted at: 21 Mar 2023 17:06 UTC
INFORM Coping capacity of the alert score: 7.5 (Afghanistan)

GDACS Score

For more info on GDACS alert score click here.
  Earthquake
(Shakemap)		 GDACS score
NEIC 0 0
us7000jln7 Scaled population (vector) 0  
  C1 shakemap 0  
  C2 shakemap 0  
  Country Vulnerability 0  
  INFORM_normalised 0  
Maximum expected impact using different data sources.

ShakeMap is a product of the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program in conjunction with the regional seismic networks. ShakeMaps provide near-real-time maps of ground motion and shaking intensity following significant earthquakes.


Episode Timeline

IDAlertScoreDateMag, DepthMMI*Population**Tsunami risk***Delay (hh:mm)Source
1496695 0 21 Mar 2023 16:47 6.5M, 187.589km 4.7 N/A (in MMI>=VII) 00:18 NEIC
The episode that generated the alert; the next major evaluations beyond 12 hours will not trigger additional alerts.
The episode that has the last updated information.
* The max MMI detected for sources having shakemaps;
** The population detected in MMI>=7 for episode with shakemap or in a 100km radius;
*** The tsunami max height.

Exposed population

The earthquake happened in Afghanistan ,of North-west Frontier (population 16,643,640) . The alertlevel for this event is GREEN

Intensity Population
28000 people


Shakemaps Timeline

AlertShake id #ScoreepisodeidLat/LonMagnitudeDepthMax MMIDate shake (UTC)Delay (hh:mm) 
1 0 1496695 70.979/36.523 6.5 187.6 4.362 21 Mar 2023 17:11 00:23 (new episode)
2 0 1496695 70.979/36.523 6.5 187.6 4.362 21 Mar 2023 17:19 00:32 (upd of #1)
3 0 1496695 70.979/36.523 6.5 187.6 4.362 21 Mar 2023 18:03 01:15 (upd of #2)
4 0 1496695 70.979/36.523 6.5 187.6 4.362 21 Mar 2023 18:51 02:03 (upd of #3)
5 0 1496695 70.979/36.523 6.5 187.6 4.701 22 Mar 2023 01:31 08:44 (upd of #4)
6 0 1496695 70.979/36.523 6.5 187.6 4.702 22 Mar 2023 17:40 1d 00:53 (upd of #5)
7 0 1496695 70.946/36.519 6.5 192 4.695 29 Mar 2023 23:50 8d 07:03 (upd of #6)

Affected Provinces

Intensity Region Province Country Population
North-west Frontier Pakistan 38000 people
Badakhshan Afghanistan 78000 people
North-west Frontier Pakistan 490000 people
Takhar Afghanistan 66000 people
Konarha Afghanistan 2400 people
Dushanbe Tajikistan 20000 people
Kapisa Afghanistan <1000 people
Laghman Afghanistan <1000 people
Baghlan Afghanistan 14000 people
Kulyab Tajikistan 32000 people
Northern Areas Pakistan <1000 people
Konduz Afghanistan <1000 people
Kurgan Tyube Tajikistan 1400 people
Federally Administered Tribal Areas Pakistan no people
Parvan Afghanistan 1100 people
Kabol Afghanistan no people

Affected populated places. Areas of interest

Intensity Name Region Province Country City class Population Distance
Chala Darreh Badakhshan Afghanistan Village - 74 km
Darband North West Frontier Pakistan Village - 78 km
Korogah Takhar Afghanistan Village - 80 km
Pastaw Takhar Afghanistan Village - 94 km
Sanoghar North West Frontier Pakistan Village - 132 km
Deh Lala Baghlan Afghanistan Village - 135 km
'Abd ol Hezar Beyg Takhar Afghanistan Village - 156 km
Imeni Vase Khatlon Tajikistan Village - 185 km

see full list


Critical infrastructure

Airports, ports, nuclear plants and hydrodams at risk, if affected, are listed below.

Airports

Intensity Name IATA Code Elevation (m) Usage Runway type IFR Runway Length (ft) Distance
Chitral CJL 1494 Civ. Paved No 5800 102 km

More information

For a full list of available products related to this event, please refer to the GDACS Resources page.