The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 5.4 Earthquake at a depth of 16.3 km close to the Georgian border in the Caucasus Mountains of southwest Dagestan in Russia's North Caucasian Federation, slightly before 8.10 am local time (slightly before 4.10 am GMT) on Tuesday 17 September 2013. This is a fairly large quake, with the potential to be locally dangerous, but it happened in a remote area and there are no reports of any damage or casualties. The quake was felt as far away as Tbilisi in Georgia, 95 km to the southwest.
The approximate location of the 17 September 2013 Dagestan Earthquake. Google Maps.
Earthquakes are a common problem in the Caucasus region, which is located on the southern part of the Eurasian Plate, close to the boundary with the Arabian and Anatolian Plates. The Arabian Plate is being pushed northwards by the movement of the African Plate further to the south, pushing the Anatolian Plate to the west, and creating stress in the rocks around the Caspian Sea Basin, and creating the uplift that has led to the formation of the Caucasus Mountains.
See also Magnitude 4.8 Earthquake in the Zagros Mountains of western Iran, Magnitude 4.1 Earthquake in northeast Azerbaijan, Magnitude 4.9 Earthquake under the Caspian Sea, Earthquake beneath the eastern Black Sea and Two major Earthquakes in northeast Iran, leading to heavy death toll.
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