Tuesday, 4 July 2023

Magnitude 5.4 Earthquake off the northeast coast of Azerbaijan.

The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 5.4 Earthquake at a depth of 59.7 km off the northeast coast of Azerbaijan slightly after midnight local time on Tuesday 4 July 2023 (slightly 8.00 pm on Monday 4 July GMT). There are no reports of any damage or casualties associated with this event, but people have reported feeling it along the northeastern part of the coast of Azerbaijan, and adjacent parts of the Caspian Sea coast of Russia.

The approximate location of the 4 July 2023 Azerbaijan Earthquake. USGS.

Earthquakes are a common problem in Azerbaijan, 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.

The movement of the Arabian Plate into the Eurasian Plate from the south. El-Isa & Franke (2002).

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