The United States Geological Survey has reported a Magnitude 4.2 Earthquake at a depth of 36.1 km in Khuzestan Province in southwestern Iran, roughly 24 km north of the city of Omidiyeh, slightly after 3.40 pm local time (slightly after 12.10 pm GMT) on Thursday 3 October 2013. There are no reports of any damage or injuries occurring from this incident, but it is likely to have been felt locally.
The approximate location of the 3 October 2013 Khuzastan Earthquake. Google Maps.
Iran is situated on the southern margin of the Eurasian Plate. Immediately to the south lies the Arabian Plate, which is being pushed northward by the impact of Africa from the south. This has created a zone of faulting and fold mountains along the southwest coast of the country, known as the Zagros Thrust Belt, while to the northeast of this the geology is dominated by three large tectonic blocks, the Central Iran, Lut and Helmand, which move separately in response to pressure from the south, stretching and compressing the rock layers close to the surface and creating frequent Earthquakes, some of which can be very large.
See also Magnitude 4.4 Earthquake in northwest Iran, Magnitude 4.2 Earthquake in Semnan Province, northern Iran, Magnitude 4.5 Earthquake in the Zagros Mountains of western Iran, Magnitude 4.8 Earthquake in the Zagros Mountains of western Iran and Magnitude 4.1 Earthquake in western Iran.
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