The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 5.2 Earthquake at a depth of 20 km, 65 km to the south of the city of Bereket in western Turkmenistan, slightly after 4.30 pm local time (slightly after 11.30 am GMT) on Monday 9 December 2013. There are no reposts of any damage or casualties relating to this Earthquake, though it is likely to have been felt locally.
The approximate location of the 9 December 2013 Turkmenistan Earthquake. Google Maps.
Earthquakes are a common problem in western Turkmenistan, which is located on the southern part of the Eurasian Plate, close to the boundary with the Arabian Plate along the Zagros Fold Belt in southern Iran. The Arabian Plate is moving northwards, creating stress in the rocks around the Caspian Sea Basin, and leading to the uplift in the Kopeh Dagh and Balkan mountain ranges of western Turkmenistan, as well as frequent Earthquakes in Turkmenistan, Afghanstan, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and the nations of the Crimean Peninsula.
See also Two Earthquakes in southern Iran, Magnitude 4.9 Earthquake in northeast Balochistan, Magnitude 4.0 Earthquake in Van Province, Turkey, Magnitude 5.3 Earthquake in eastern Balochistan Province, Pakistan and Magnitude 4.7 Earthquake in southern Balochistan.
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