The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 5.2 Earthquake at a depth of 45 km on the Caspian Sea Coast of Balkan Province, Turkmenistan, slightly after 6.55 pm local time (slightly after 1.55 pm GMT) on Tuesday 14 January 2013. There are no reports of any damage or injuries attributed to this event, though it is likely to have been felt locally.
The approximate location of the 14 January 2014 Baklan Province 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 Magnitude 5.2 Earthquake in western Turkmenistan, Magnitude 4.0 Earthquake in Van Province, Turkey, Magnitude 4.8 Earthquake in Markazi Province, eastern Iran, Magnitude 4.0 Earthquake in Kars Province, eastern Turkey and Magnitude 4.4 Earthquake in northwest Iran.
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